Development and Validation of a Questionnaire for the Assessment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Implications for Clinical Practice in Physical Therapy and Patient Management
Introduction: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a questionnaire that evaluates the impact of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) on quality of life and functional capacity in older adults, while also exploring correlations between clinical factors and DPN severity to guide persona...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Oradea Publishing House
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/gq8joY2eTbMiJ5i |
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| Summary: | Introduction: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a questionnaire that evaluates
the impact of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) on quality of life and functional capacity
in older adults, while also exploring correlations between clinical factors and DPN severity to
guide personalized treatment strategies. Methods and materials: A systematic literature
review identified key symptoms of DPN, leading to the development of the 20-item
Questionnaire for the Assessment of the Impact of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
(QAIDPN). The QAIDPN evaluates neuropathic pain, sensory changes, balance difficulties,
functional limitations, and overall quality of life using a Likert scale (0-4). It was piloted with
56 DPN patients (mean age 72.45 ± 5.72 years) to assess internal consistency. Correlational
analyses examined relationships between questionnaire outcomes and age, sex, diabetes
duration, and highest recorded blood glucose level (HRBGL). Results: The QAIDPN
demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93), indicating excellent
agreement among the items. QAIDPN scores significantly correlated with HRBGL (r = 0.80, p
≤ 0.001), diabetes duration (r = 0.64, p ≤ 0.001), and age (r = 0.56, p ≤ 0.001). Discussion: This
study developed and validated the QAIDPN, a novel tool for assessing DPN's effects in older
adults. Covering a wide range of domains, it provides valuable insights into DPN’s impact on
quality of life and functional capacity. QAIDPN is a reliable method for evaluating DPN, aiding
in the development of therapeutic algorithms to improve patient outcomes. Our
correlational analysis identified significant associations between QAIDPN scores and clinical
outcomes such as HRBGL, diabetes duration, and age (p ≤ 0.001), guiding targeted treatment
strategies for DPN. Conclusions: The development and validation of the QAIDPN enhance
clinical research and practice by providing a reliable method for evaluating DPN and serving
as a foundation for creating targeted physical therapy algorithms aimed at improving patient
outcomes. |
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| ISSN: | 2068-1712 |