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Quality of Life Research
Published in: Quality of Life Research 6/2007

Open Access 01-08-2007 | Original Paper

Measurement of overall quality of life in nursing homes through self-report: the role of cognitive impairment

Authors: Debby Lydia Gerritsen, Nardi Steverink, Marcel E. Ooms, Henrica C. W. de Vet, Miel W. Ribbe

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 6/2007

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Measurement of overall quality of life in nursing homes through self-report: the role of cognitive impairment
Authors
Debby Lydia Gerritsen
Nardi Steverink
Marcel E. Ooms
Henrica C. W. de Vet
Miel W. Ribbe
Publication date
01-08-2007
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Quality of Life Research / Issue 6/2007
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9203-7

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