Development of the Valued Living Questionnaire - Comprehension Support version (VLQ-CS) and validation in adults with acquired brain injury

Dana Wong; Hannah Miller; David Lawson; Karen Borschmann; Alexandra Armstrong; Nick Sathananthan; Nicolette Kamberis; Jessica Skaliotis; Emma Power

doi:10.1080/09638288.2024.2315510

Development of the Valued Living Questionnaire - Comprehension Support version (VLQ-CS) and validation in adults with acquired brain injury

Disabil Rehabil. 2024 Feb 12:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2315510. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Dana Wong¹, Hannah Miller¹, David Lawson¹, Karen Borschmann², Alexandra Armstrong¹, Nick Sathananthan¹, Nicolette Kamberis¹, Jessica Skaliotis¹, Emma Power^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
³ University of Technology Sydney, Speech Pathology, Graduate School of Health, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ The Centre for Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Recovery (Aphasia CRE), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 38347767
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2315510

Abstract

Purpose: Valued living (acting in accordance with personal values) is associated with better outcomes after acquired brain injury (ABI), but its measurement using the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ) may not be valid due to comprehension errors relating to structure and content. We aimed to modify the VLQ to improve its accessibility and evaluate construct validity and reliability in an ABI cohort.

Materials and methods: Adaptations made in the VLQ - Comprehension Support version (VLQ-CS) used established communication support methods and addressed common comprehension errors. 103 community-dwelling participants (34% female; mean age 52.17, range 19-79) with ABI (66% stroke, 16% TBI, 18% other) completed the VLQ-CS, and measures of convergent (valued living, mood, wellbeing, psychological inflexibility) and divergent validity (subjective memory). Test-retest reliability was evaluated with repeated administrations 6-8 weeks apart for a subset of participants (n = 44), using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs).

Results: Convergent validity was supported; VLQ-CS scores were positively correlated with measures of valued living (r=.60-.65) and wellbeing (r=.64-.67), and negatively correlated with depression (r=-0.56-.58), anxiety (r=-0.35-.38) and psychological inflexibility (r=-0.37-.41). Divergent validity was marginal (r=-0.29). Test-retest reliability was good for the VLQ-CS Composite score (ICC=.80).

Conclusions: The VLQ-CS shows promise as a valid, reliable measure of valued living post-ABI. Future research should extend to neurotypical and other clinical populations.

Keywords: Valued Living Questionnaire; Valued living; accessibility; acquired brain injury; rehabilitation; reliability; validity.

Plain language summary

Valued living or values-based action is associated with better functional and psychosocial outcomes after acquired brain injury (ABI) and is therefore an important target for intervention.Measurement of valued living needs to be clear, easily understood, and relevant for people with cognitive and communication impairments associated with ABI and other conditions.The Valued Living Questionnaire – Comprehension Support version (VLQ-CS) was developed to optimise accessibility and reduce comprehension errors.The VLQ-CS is valid, reliable and fit-for-purpose as a measure of valued living for people with ABI.