Table 1.
Description of domains within the pre-validation C-CAP questionnaires used in this study
| Domain | Question/item numbers | Domain description |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-validation, pre-ablation questionnaire (C-CAP1) | ||
| Pre-ablation patient expectations | 1–5 | Contains a 4 item Likert scale (Q1–3b) with five response options (each item scored 0–4); each explored patients’ treatment expectations prior to the procedure. The “treatment expectations” multi-item scale had a minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 16 (the 4 items in the scale were given equal weight, and each had a minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 4). This domain also asked whether this is the patient’s first ablation (Q4) and for the number of previous ablations received (Q5) |
| Condition and symptoms | 6, 7, 8, 13 | This domain was a modified version of the disease-specific Patient Perception of Arrhythmia Questionnaire (PPAQ) originally developed by Wood et al. [21]. Following adaptations for use in a UK population with specialist, lay and patient input, this updated tool included elements which were divided into three multi-item scales where a high score reflects a worse health state: Symptom severity (Q6a–o): 15 item symptom scale, each symptom/item had 4 response options (scored 0–3). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum was 45 (equal weight was given to each item in the scale and all subsequent scales) Frequency and duration of symptoms (Q7–8): two item scale, each item had 5 response options (scored 0–4). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum was 8 Impact on life (Q13a–j): 10 item scale, each item had 4 response options (scored 0–3). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 30 |
| Restricted activity days and healthcare visits | 9a–12b | This domain was modified from the PPAQ [20] and aimed to count how many days (either work/school/college, social activities, or normal daily activities) in the last 30 have been affected by arrhythmia symptoms. The number of visits to a GP or hospital in the last 30 days was also recorded |
| Medication and general health | 14–17 | Q14 asked whether the respondent normally takes medication (yes/no); Q15 asked for the name and dose of medication (free text); Q16 asked how important a reduction in medication is for the respondent (Likert scale with 4 response categories scored from 0 to 3); Q17 asked whether the respondent had been diagnosed with any one of a list of 12 common conditions (with a “tick all that apply” instruction) |
| EQ-5D-5L | Not numbered | This comprised the widely used global health questionnaire which provides a simple descriptive profile and a single index value for health status [10]. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire consists of five questions related to mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each question can be answered on five different levels. The EQ-5D-5L also includes a visual analogue scale (question 19) from 0 (worst health imaginable) to 100 (best health imaginable). Therefore, a higher score is related to a better outcome, in contrast to the other scoring systems used elsewhere in this paper |
| Pre-validation post-ablation questionnaire (C-CAP2) | ||
| Post-ablation change in symptoms | 1–3b, 7 | This domain consists of 4 items each with 4 available responses relating to changes in patients’ arrhythmia-related symptoms since receiving a procedure to treat their condition (scored from 1 to 4 for each scale). Therefore, the change in symptoms multi-item scale has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 16. This domain also asks whether the outcome of the procedure met the patients’ expectations |
| Procedure-related complications | 4–6 | This domain comprised a binary question relating to whether patients experienced any ablation-related complications and two tables asking patients whether they were warned of or experienced any of a list of complications |
| Condition and symptoms | 8, 9, 10, 15 | As described for C-CAP1 |
| Restricted activity days and healthcare visits | 11a–13b | As described for C-CAP1 |
| Medication and general health | 16–19 | As described for C-CAP1 |
| EQ-5D-5L | Not numbered | As described for C-CAP1 |
C-CAP, Cardiff Cardiac Ablation PROM (patient-reported outcome measure); PPAQ, Patient Perception of Arrhythmia Questionnaire