Development of Elderly Quality of Life Index– Eqoli: Theoretical-Conceptual Framework, Chosen Methodology, and Relevant Items Generation

Abstract

Paschoal SMP, Jacob Filho W, Litvoc J. Development of an Elderly Quality of Life Index-EQoLI: Theoretical-conceptual framework, chosen methodology, and relevant items generation. Clinics. 2007;62(3):279-88. PURPOSE:To describe the initial steps of the construction process of a quality of life evaluation instrument for the elderly-the theoretic-conceptual framework for the construct, Quality of Life in Old Age; the construction methodology; and the generation of relevant items. METHODS: The first step was to conceptualize and define the construct, determining how much the elderly are able to perform of what they believe to be important in their lives and whether they are satisfied with what was possible to perform. The next step was to select and describe the construction methodology (the Clinical Impact Method) and the phase of generation of relevant items for the research object. The necessary procedures were delineated through a pilot study, which helped to establish all phases of the used methodology. The viability of the construction of the Quality of Life in Old Age evaluation instrument was demonstrated along with the needed adaptations. RESULTS: From 1032 answers by older people, 138 relevant items for the construct were identified by the items generation process. The pilot study demonstrated the suitability of the application of the methodology and established modifications to the preliminary items list, resulting in a new 139-item list. DISCUSSION: Now that the theoretical-conceptual framework of the construct as well as the construction methodology and the items generation are established, the next step will consist of administering the resulting list to a sample of elderly people for item reduction and distribution of items into dimensions.

Czech version of OPQOL-35 questionnaire: the evaluation of the psychometric properties

“…There are six of them. If we sort them by the year of their origin, we get this order: CASP-19 – Control, Autonomy, Self-Regulation, Pleasure [11], WHOQOL-OLD – World Health Organization Quality of Life – Old [12], QUAL-E – Quality of Life at the End of Life [13], EQOLI – Elderly Quality of Life Index [14, 15], OPOQOL - Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire [16], ASCOT – Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit [17]. When considering which one to choose, we have ruled out three of them at once: ASCOT questionnaire because it is designed primarily to assess the social, not medical care; EQOLI questionnaire, the development of which has not yet been completed and the questionnaire QUAL-E, because it focuses on specific period - the quality of life at the end of life.…”

Validation of an instrument to evaluate quality of life in the aging population: WHOQOL-AGE

“…EQOLI was developed in Brazil to monitor longitudinal change in QOL, as well as to evaluate the impact on QOL of behavior, intervention, and treatment. The instrument comprises eight domains and 43 items [7]. The QOLS-E was developed and validated in a sample of the institutionalized population in Japan, and showed an adequate factor structure, although its reliability was not very high [6].…”

Development and Validation of a Measure of Quality of Life for the Young Elderly in Sri Lanka

“…In the case of measurement of QoL in the elderly, it has most often been carried out using generic HRQoL instruments such as the Medical Outcomes Study “Short Form 36.” 6 Some researchers have developed QoL instruments specific for elderly. Guyatt et al 6 developed a measure for frail elderly, Paschoal et al 7 developed the Elderly Quality of Life Index (EQOLI), and Bowling 2 developed the Older People’s Quality of Life (OPQOL) instrument. Bowling’s approach is noteworthy, as she built the dimensions from the perspective of older persons.…”