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Quality of Life Research
Published in: Quality of Life Research 1/2010

01-02-2010

Measurement limit of quality-of-life questionnaires in psychiatric settings

Authors: Takeshi Nishiyama, Norio Ozaki

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Purpose

The extent to which psychiatric patients with a broad spectrum of disability can validly self-report on their quality of life (QOL) remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the measurement limit of a QOL questionnaire in psychiatric settings.

Methods

We examined this issue by assessing data quality, reliability, and validity of the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 137 chronically mentally ill inpatients. We also attempted to identify the impact of cognitive impairment on the validity of the SF-36 and ascertain the points throughout the continuum of cognitive functioning at which self-reported data become compromised.

Results

Cognitive functioning was a major determinant of the data quality, and the psychometric properties of this instrument were marginally acceptable only in patients with Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 28 or higher.

Conclusions

Measuring QOL reliably and validly through self-report may be possible in psychiatric patients with only very slight cognitive impairment. Therefore, interviewer-administered instruments that measure QOL may be preferable to questionnaires in psychiatric settings.
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Metadata
Title
Measurement limit of quality-of-life questionnaires in psychiatric settings
Authors
Takeshi Nishiyama
Norio Ozaki
Publication date
01-02-2010
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Quality of Life Research / Issue 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9556-1

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