Validation of the state version questionnaire on autonomic regulation (state-aR) for cancer patients

Abstract

ObjectivesCurrent quality of life inventories used in oncology mainly measure the effects of chemo- or radiotherapy alongside functional and role scales. A new approach is to measure the autonomic state of regulation with the trait-inventory of autonomic regulation (Trait-aR). Loss of Trait-aR has been shown in different medical conditions such as breast cancer (BC) but not in colorectal cancer patients (CRC). In this paper we report the validation of a new state autonomic regulation scale (State-aR) of the last week.MethodsStudy 1 included 114 participants: (41 women/16 men with cancer and 57 age- and gender-matched healthy people) to conduct a reliability-, factor- and validity-analysis. Concurrent and convergent validity was evaluated with Trait-aR, Fatigue-Numeri-cal-Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and the self-regulation scale, 65 participants were retested. Study 2 completed 42 participants: 17 with BC and 25 with CRC receiving chemotherapy. The State-aR was administered prior, during and after chemotherapy for measuring responsiveness.ResultsThe factor analysis loaded to four subscales of State-aR (rest-activity, orthostatic-circulatory, thermosweating and digestive regulation) with a: Cronbach-α rα = 0.77-0.83 and a test-retest-reliability rrt = 0.60-0.80. The sum- and sub scales correlated with their concurrent subscales in the Trait-aR (0.48-0.74) and with the sum-scale moderately with all convergent criteria (r = 0.41 --0.44; p < 0.001). During chemotherapy the State-aR-sum and rest-activity-scale decreased significantly compared to the change in the Trait-aR (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings support that the state autonomic regulation scale has satisfactory to good reliability, good validity and acceptable responsiveness in the context of chemotherapy treatment.

Does self-regulation and autonomic regulation have an influence on survival in breast and colon carcinoma patients? results of a prospective outcome study

“…Our findings on self-regulation are consistent with results of another research group that found that self-regulation is positively associated with patients survival with a range of solid tumours [ 11 , 19 ]. Self-Regulation (SR) is thought to represent the "ability to actively achieve well-being, inner equilibrium, appropriate stimulation and feeling of competence to control and manage stressful situations"[ 20 ] and shows repeatedly low-moderate correlations with aR (0.30-0.38) [ 25 , 20 ]. Unpublished data from our study group show a strong correlation between SR and the three SOC-subscales (comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness) from r = 0.70 to 0.73 (p < 0.05) which suggest that SOC/resilience might be connected with a goal-orientated change of lifestyle and orientation towards wellbeing.…”

Exploring the Effects of Yoga Therapy on Heart Rate Variability and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Cancer Treatment: A Study Protocol

“…It includes items adapted from the trait version to reflect state of regulations in relation to the preceding week. Although an 18-item state version has been published, 58 only the 14 items that could be adapted and that were not too specific were used. Each trait aR item was scored on a 3-point scale (though the anchors differed across items) whereas each state aR item was scored on a 5-point scale (with different anchors across items).…”

“… 59 Scores have been shown to have adequate-to-good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity among adults with a range of medical conditions, including cancer. 57 - 59 …”

Effects of Eurythmy Therapy in the Treatment of Essential Arterial Hypertension: A Pilot Study

“…Patients were also given a number of questionnaires before and after the intervention, including State-autonomic Regulation (S-aR), 11 Self-regulation (SR), 12 , 13 Internal Coherence Scale (ICS), 14 and the Herdecke Quality of Life Questionnaire (HLQ). 15 At the start of the study, patients also were given the questionnaire on Trait-autonomic Regulation (T-aR).…”

“…16 The S-aR questionnaire is a four-dimensional, 18-item inventory with the subscales orthostatic-circulatory, rest/activity, thermo-sweating, and digestive regulation. 11 The T-aR questionnaire is a three-dimensional, 18-item inventory with the subscales orthostatic-circulatory, rest/activity, and digestive regulation. 16 The autonomic regulation records the integration of endogenous autonomic functions, such as sleeping, waking, vertigo, orthostasis, and thermal and digestive regulation as well as intrinsic motivation.…”