The assessment of reliability and validity of the Thai Versions of the Thirst Distress Scale for patients with Heart Failure and the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire in heart failure patients

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients can experience poor appetite and intense thirst. The Thirst Distress Scale for HF (TDS-HF) and the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) are tools used to assess these symptoms. However, these questionnaires are not currently available in Thai. Aims: To translate the TDS-HF and SNAQ into the Thai language and to evaluate the reliability and validity of these translated instruments. Methods: The TDS-HF and the SNAQ were translated from English to Thai using a forward–backward method. Their face and content validity, their internal consistency and test–retest reliability, were assessed with a sample of 20 HF patients recruited from a single supra-tertiary hospital in Thailand. Results: Participants reported that the TDS-HF and the SNAQ had face validity. The content validity was assessed as adequate by the expert panel. The Cronbach’s alphas of the TDS-HF and the SNAQ were 0.91 and 0.71, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the TDS-HF and the SNAQ were 0.91 and 0.91, respectively. Conclusions: The Thai versions of the TDS-HF and the SNAQ demonstrate adequate validity and reliability. These tools hold significant potential for supporting clinical practice, particularly for nurses involved in HF management by helping to assess thirst and appetite effectively.