RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Psychometric properties of MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire: Brazilian version Karin Mitie Nakajima, Roberta Cunha Matheus Rodrigues, Maria Cecı´lia Bueno Jayme Gallani, Neusa Maria Costa Alexandre & Neil Oldridge Accepted for publication 24 December 2008 Correspondence to K.M. Nakajima: e-mail: karin_kubo@hotmail.com Karin Mitie Nakajima MSc RN Nurse Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil Roberta Cunha Matheus Rodrigues PhD RN Associate Professor Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil Maria Cecı ´lia Bueno Jayme Gallani PhD RN Associate Professor Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil Neusa Maria Costa Alexandre PhD RN Associate Professor Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil Neil Oldridge PhD Clinical Professor Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Director Cardiology Fellow Research, Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care Group, Glendale, Wisconsin, USA NAKAJIMA K.M., RODRIGUES R.C.M., GALLANI M.C.B.J., ALEXANDRE NAKAJIMA K.M., RODRIGUES R.C.M., GALLANI M.C.B.J., ALEXANDRE N.M.C. & OLDRIDGE N. (2009) N.M.C. & OLDRIDGE N. (2009) Psychometric properties of MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire: Brazilian version. Journal of Advanced Nursing 65(5), 1084–1094. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.04962.x Abstract Title. Psychometric properties of MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire: Brazilian version. Aim. This paper is a report of a study to test the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Version of the MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Background. Evidence of acceptable psychometric properties of the original MacNew questionnaire has been reported. However, the psychometric performance of the Brazilian version has not been extensively studied. Method. Between November 2004 and June 2005, 159 patients with myocardial infarction completed the Brazilian version of the instrument. Reliability was determined with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; convergent validity with Pearson’s correlation between the Brazilian MacNew questionnaire and the SF-36; and the ‘known-group’ approach was used to test discriminant validity. Ceiling and floor effects and practicality were analyzed. Findings. It took an average of 8Æ9 minutes to complete the instrument. A ceiling effect was detected in the subscales and global scores, with no floor effect. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ranged from 0Æ87 to 0Æ92. Scores on similar domains of the SF-36 and the MacNew questionnaire were correlated (r =0Æ66; 0Æ78 and 0Æ53 for the physical, emotional, and social domains). Correlation between the dissimilar SF-36 mental health and MacNew physical domains was lower at 0Æ45; correlation between the dissimilar SF-36 physical functioning and MacNew emotional domain was 0Æ64. Individuals without regional ventricular dysfunction or symptoms had statistically significantly higher scores than those with regional ventricular dysfunction or symptoms. Conclusion. The Brazilian version of the MacNew questionnaire has acceptable levels of validity, reliability and practicality. Further studies are advisable to confirm its divergent validity and to test its responsiveness. 1084 Ó 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation Ó 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd JAN JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING