Functional Dyspepsia Validation and Results of a Novel Survey Instrument to Evaluate Patient Knowledge and Perceptions

Background: Patients' knowledge and perceptions of functional dyspepsia (FD) may affect illness behavior and healthcare utilization. Aims: To develop, validate. and administer a survey instrument 10 assess symptoms, knowledge. and fears in FD patients. Methods: A 66-item questionnaire was generated. Items assessed domains of etiology. diagnosis, natural history, and fears. Face and content validity were established through expert review and a patient focus group. After validation. questionnaires were mailed to a Separate group of FD patients. Responses were analyzed using scales and means. Results: For survey validation. 66 of 80 patients (83%) returned both surveys. Internal consistency was good for most scale level measures (alpha = 0.50 to 0.90). Reliability coefficients were good for measures of symptom assessment (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.75 to 0.89) and consulting behaviors (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.76 to 0.89). After Survey validation. an additional 223 (62.8%) questionnaires were returned. Misperceptions wen, noted in the domains of etiology. diagnosis, treatment and risks of FD. Forty-eight percent of the respondents believed FD increases the risk of developing an ulcer and 32% believed there was an increased risk of developing stomach or colon cancer. Conclusions: This novel questionnaire demonstrated good validity and reliability in FD patients, and identified significant misperceptions about the etiology, evaluation, treatment. and natural history of FD.