Authors: Gerritsen, Debby; Steverink, Nardi; Ooms, Marcel; Vet, Henrica; Ribbe, Miel

Source: Quality of Life Research, Volume 16, Number 6, August 2007 , pp. 1029-1037(9)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Measuring quality of life is a necessity for adequate interventions. This paper concerns the usefulness of six self-report measures for overall quality of life for nursing home residents with various levels of cognitive impairment. It was investigated which proportion of residents from four cognition groups could complete a scale, and internal consistency and construct validity of the scales were studied. Data collection took place in ten Dutch nursing homes (N = 227). The proportion of residents that could complete each scale varied. The Depression List could be administered most often to the cognitively most impaired group (43%; Mini Mental State Examination-scores 0-4). In the three cognition groups with MMSE-score >5, internal consistency of the Depression List, Geriatric Depression Scale and Negative Affect Scale was adequate in all three groups (alpha ≥.68). Intercorrelation was highest for the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, the Depression List, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (rho ≥.65). Nonetheless, self-report scales were not strongly correlated with two observational scales for depression, especially in cognitively severely impaired residents (rho ≤.30). In conclusion, it may not be possible to measure overall quality of life through self-report, and possibly also through observation, in many nursing home residents.

Keywords: Self-report outcome measures; Long term care; Overall quality of life; Age-related memory disorders

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9203-7

Affiliations: 1: Email: d.gerritsen@hin.ru.nl

Publication date: 2007-08-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Psychology
• By this author: Gerritsen, Debby ;  Steverink, Nardi ;  Ooms, Marcel ;  Vet, Henrica ;  Ribbe, Miel

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers