Background: The WHOQOL-OLD is an instrument for the assessment of subjective quality of life in elderly people. It is based on the WHO definition of quality of life and is available in more than 20 languages. However, in most countries, the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD have been assessed only on the basis of small local samples and not in representative studies. In this study, the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD are evaluated based on a representative sample of Germany\'s elderly population. Methods: Face-to-face interviews with 1133 respondents from the German population aged 60 years and older were conducted. Quality of life was assessed by means of the WHOQOL-BREF, the WHOQOL-OLD and the SF12. Moreover, the GDS, the DemTect and the IADL were applied for the assessment of depressive symptoms, cognitive capacities and capacity for carrying out daily activities. Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD were evaluated by means of classical and probabilistic test theory, confirmatory factor analysis and multivariate regression model.Results: Cronbach\'s alpha was found to be above 0.85 for four and above .75 for two of the six facets of the WHOQOL-OLD. IRT analyses indicated that all items of the WHOQOL-OLD contribute considerably to the measurement of the associated facets. While the six-facet structure of the WHOQOL-OLD was well supported by the results of the confirmatory factor analysis, a common latent factor for the WHOQOL-OLD total scale could not be identified. Correlations with other quality of life measures and multivariate regression models with GDS, IADL and the DemTect indicate a good criterion validity of all six WHOQOL-OLD facets.Conclusions: Study results confirm that the good psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD that have been found in international studies could be replicated in a representative study of the German population. These results suggest that the WHOQOL-OLD is an instrument that is well suited to identify the needs and the wishes of an aging population.

Background: The WHOQOL-OLD is an instrument for the assessment of subjective quality of life in elderly people. It is based on the WHO definition of quality of life and is available in more than 20 languages. However, in most countries, the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD have been assessed only on the basis of small local samples and not in representative studies. In this study, the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD are evaluated based on a representative sample of Germany\''s elderly population. Methods: Face-to-face interviews with 1133 respondents from the German population aged 60 years and older were conducted. Quality of life was assessed by means of the WHOQOL-BREF, the WHOQOL-OLD and the SF12. Moreover, the GDS, the DemTect and the IADL were applied for the assessment of depressive symptoms, cognitive capacities and capacity for carrying out daily activities. Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD were evaluated by means of classical and probabilistic test theory, confirmatory factor analysis and multivariate regression model.Results: Cronbach\''s alpha was found to be above 0.85 for four and above .75 for two of the six facets of the WHOQOL-OLD. IRT analyses indicated that all items of the WHOQOL-OLD contribute considerably to the measurement of the associated facets. While the six-facet structure of the WHOQOL-OLD was well supported by the results of the confirmatory factor analysis, a common latent factor for the WHOQOL-OLD total scale could not be identified. Correlations with other quality of life measures and multivariate regression models with GDS, IADL and the DemTect indicate a good criterion validity of all six WHOQOL-OLD facets.Conclusions: Study results confirm that the good psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD that have been found in international studies could be replicated in a representative study of the German population. These results suggest that the WHOQOL-OLD is an instrument that is well suited to identify the needs and the wishes of an aging population.

This article describes the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD (an add-on module to the World Health Organization's Quality of Life measure for older people) in a South African sample. International literature cites three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. The psychometric properties associated with these three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD are also described. The unique challenges posed by ageing populations are evident in both developed and developing countries. In South Africa the elderly population is also increasing dramatically. There is a disproportionate distribution of older persons per ethnic group, with white older people representing the largest group of older South Africans (21%, proportional to ethnic group). Regardless of integration policies in post-apartheid South Africa, especially in terms of housing arrangements, the majority of long-term care facilities in South Africa remain to be occupied predominantly by white older people. For this reason the participants of this study were mostly older white South Africans. It is, however, projected that this picture will change in future times due to more aggressive transformation-driven policies. A national audit of residential care facilities by the Department of Social Development in 2010 indicated a need for psychosocial interventions since the QoL of residents was found to be undetermined. QoL research in South Africa has largely been conducted from socio-economic and health-care perspectives and has tended to focus on specific societies in which older people are usually not explicitly included. Evidence exists of various qualitative studies among older people living in long-term care facilities, from a psychological perspective. However, the short supply of quantitative studies in this setting is significant. The lack of measurements developed for an older population also resulted in an increasing need for the development of gerontological QoL measurements with sound psychometric properties. Internationally, various measures of QoL utilised in older age groups have become increasingly popular. This study took particular interest in the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization Quality of Life group, a collaborative effort among numerous researchers from various countries has led to the development of a measure focussing on the QoL in older population cohorts. The initial development of the generic WHOQOL measures of quality of life occurred in 15 different centres worldwide, excluding South Africa. In the development of an add-on module, 22 centres around the world were involved (again excluding South Africa). It cannot be assumed that measuring instruments developed in a Western context are applicable in an African context. South Africa is a very diverse nation - the majority of ethnic groups lead a collectivistic existence. As a result the determination of the psychometric properties of such instruments, for use within South Africa, was needed. It is of importance to note that the participants of this study were more individualistically inclined, which is comparable to Western societies. This study was the first step in exploring the instrument’s reliable use within South Africa. Surveys were completed by 176 older people who were fluent in both Afrikaans and English. Participants of the study resided in long-term care facilities in Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa. Their ages varied between 61 and 95 and the mean age of participants was 77 years. Of the respondents, 50 were male and 126 were female. All reported average to good health and cognitive ability. The current study found encouraging results related to the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD as well as the three shorter versions of this instrument. Results from the data of the current sample seem to fit the original structure model well. The reliabilities associated with the various sub-dimensions point to a reliable instrument. The original WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire with its 24 items or any of the three short versions of this instrument can therefore be utilised in a South African context. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This article describes the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD (an add-on module to the World Health Organization's Quality of Life measure for older people) in a South African sample. International literature cites three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. The psychometric properties associated with these three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD are also described. The unique challenges posed by ageing populations are evident in both developed and developing countries. In South Africa the elderly population is also increasing dramatically. There is a disproportionate distribution of older persons per ethnic group, with white older people representing the largest group of older South Africans (21%, proportional to ethnic group). Regardless of integration policies in post-apartheid South Africa, especially in terms of housing arrangements, the majority of long-term care facilities in South Africa remain to be occupied predominantly by white older people. For this reason the participants of this study were mostly older white South Africans. It is, however, projected that this picture will change in future times due to more aggressive transformation-driven policies. A national audit of residential care facilities by the Department of Social Development in 2010 indicated a need for psychosocial interventions since the QoL of residents was found to be undetermined. QoL research in South Africa has largely been conducted from socio-economic and health-care perspectives and has tended to focus on specific societies in which older people are usually not explicitly included. Evidence exists of various qualitative studies among older people living in long-term care facilities, from a psychological perspective. However, the short supply of quantitative studies in this setting is significant. The lack of measurements developed for an older population also resulted in an increasing need for the development of gerontological QoL measurements with sound psychometric properties. Internationally, various measures of QoL utilised in older age groups have become increasingly popular. This study took particular interest in the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization Quality of Life group, a collaborative effort among numerous researchers from various countries has led to the development of a measure focussing on the QoL in older population cohorts. The initial development of the generic WHOQOL measures of quality of life occurred in 15 different centres worldwide, excluding South Africa. In the development of an add-on module, 22 centres around the world were involved (again excluding South Africa). It cannot be assumed that measuring instruments developed in a Western context are applicable in an African context. South Africa is a very diverse nation - the majority of ethnic groups lead a collectivistic existence. As a result the determination of the psychometric properties of such instruments, for use within South Africa, was needed. It is of importance to note that the participants of this study were more individualistically inclined, which is comparable to Western societies. This study was the first step in exploring the instrument’s reliable use within South Africa. Surveys were completed by 176 older people who were fluent in both Afrikaans and English. Participants of the study resided in long-term care facilities in Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa. Their ages varied between 61 and 95 and the mean age of participants was 77 years. Of the respondents, 50 were male and 126 were female. All reported average to good health and cognitive ability. The current study found encouraging results related to the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD as well as the three shorter versions of this instrument. Results from the data of the current sample seem to fit the original structure model well. The reliabilities associated with the various sub-dimensions point to a reliable instrument. The original WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire with its 24 items or any of the three short versions of this instrument can therefore be utilised in a South African context. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Introducción: Los adultos mayores experimentan cambios a nivel físico, cognitivo, social y emocional que tienen un impacto en su calidad de vida. Por lo tanto, resulta necesario disponer de instrumentos con adecuadas propiedades de medición para identificar y medir esta variable, de modo que las inferencias o interpretaciones sean válidas para la toma de decisiones. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las propiedades de medición del cuestionario de calidad de vida WHOQOL-OLD en adultos mayores peruanos institucionalizados. Método: Participaron 300 adultos mayores de 65 años (Medad=78.41) institucionalizados en un asilo de la ciudad de Lima, donde 173 (57.7%) fueron hombres y 127 (42.3%) fueron mujeres. Se analizó la estructura interna del WHOQOL-OLD a través del análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y la validez convergente con el Índice de Calidad de Vida (ICV). Asimismo, se estimaron puntuaciones de fiabilidad y se obtuvo un baremo para la muestra de estudio. Resultados: Los resultados indican que la estructura de seis factores del WHOQOL-OLD presenta un ajuste satisfactorio con los datos (CFI = .97; TLI = .97; SRMR = .02; RMSEA= .06) y una adecuada consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach entre .94 y .98). Asimismo, se evidencian relaciones significativas con las dimensiones autonomía (rs = .13, p < .05) y participación social del ICV (rs = .16, p < .01). Conclusiones: El cuestionario de calidad de vida WHOQOL-OLD cuenta con evidencias empíricas de validez y fiabilidad que lo sitúan como un instrumento adecuado para medir la variable de la calidad de vida. / Introduction: Older adults experience physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that have an impact on their quality of life. It is therefore necessary to have instruments with appropriate measurement properties to identify and measure this variable, so that inferences or interpretations are valid for decision-making Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the measuring properties of the WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire for institutionalized older Peruvian adults. Method: The participants were 300 adults over 65 years (Mage=78.41) institutionalized in an asylum in the city of Lima, where 173 (57.7%) were men and 127 (42.3%) were women. The internal structure of the WHOQOL-OLD was analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis (CBA) and the convergent validity with the Quality of Life Index (LCI). In addition, reliability scores were estimated and a scale for the study sample was obtained. Results: Los resultados indican que la estructura de seis factores del WHOQOL-OLD presenta un ajuste satisfactorio con los datos (CFI = .97; TLI = .97; SRMR = .02; RMSEA= .06) y una adecuada consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach entre .94 y .98). Asimismo, se evidencian relaciones significativas con las dimensiones autonomía (rs = .13, p < .05) y participación social del ICV (rs = .16, p < .01). Conclusions: The WHOQOL-OLD Quality of Life Questionnaire has empirical evidence of validity and reliability that makes it an appropriate instrument to measure the quality of life variable. / Tesis

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:38:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IsisSL_DISSERT.pdf: 849712 bytes, checksum: 3292c946a295ab825e4bdace18364a27 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-06 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The population aging process increases the number of elderly people worldwide. In Brazil, a country of continental size, this process began in the 40s and happens with specific features in each of the different region s realities. This way, this thesis aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a elderly s quality of life (QOL) scale, the WHOQOL-old, in a population of the Northeast of Brazil. We sought to investigate the congruence between the content covered by the scale and the ones deemed as relevant by the participants. It aimed also study the validity evidences of the instrument s internal structure. To achieve the research objectives we adopted the design of multiple methods. The research was organized in two studies. For data collection, both studies used a sociodemographic questionnaire to obtain a profile of the participants and the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), used as exclusion criterion. A number of 18 elderly residents of the cities of Natal-RN and Campina Grande-PB, mean age of 73.3 years (SD = 5.9) took part od the study, They were organized into three focal groups (FG) in witch they discussed about the concept of QOL, what enhance and what hinders QOL. For Study II, a quantitative approach, 335 elderly from Campina Grande responded scale WHOQOL-old. They are between 65 and 99 years (M = 74.17, SD = 6.5). The FG data were analyzed by categorical thematic content. For the data analysis of the WHOQOL-old scale were used exploratory factor analysis and calculation of the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. The results of both studies were triangulated. According to the discussions in the FG, health and social participation have central roles in quality of life. Social participation is related to all the other QOL s influences raised. The participants indicated the relevance of religiosity and were divided about the importance of sexual activity. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted a model of six factors. Two items (OLD_3 and OLD_9), not loaded on any factor and were excluded. The other items had factor loadings > 0.3. The response categories were reduced from five to three. After the scale changes, the empirical model showed better fit (-2loglikelihood = 8993.90, BIC and AIC = 9183.90 = 9546.24) than the theoretical model (-2loglikelihood = 18390.88, AIC = 18678.88 and BIC = 19228.11). Despite the best information criterion values, the RMESA remained above the ideal (0.06). We conclude that the WHOQOL-old presents psychometric parameters below the ideal when used with the Northeast population, but the improvements made the scale s use acceptable. The WHOQOL-old uses observable variables that matches with the participants' perceptions on quality of life. However, new strategies must be tested for a better sacale refinement / O envelhecimento populacional aumenta o n?mero de idosos em todo mundo. No Brasil, pa?s de tamanho continental, esse processo come?ou na d?cada de 40 e acontece com caracter?sticas espec?ficas em suas diferentes realidades. Dentro dessa perspectiva, a presente disserta??o teve o objetivo de avaliar as propriedades psicom?tricas da escala de avalia??o da qualidade de vida (QV) de idosos, WHOQOL-old, em uma popula??o de nordestinos. Buscou-se investigar a congru?ncia entre os conte?dos abordados pela escala e aqueles considerados relevantes pelos participantes; e estudar as evid?ncias de validade de estrutura interna do instrumento. Para atingir os objetivos da pesquisa foi adotado o desenho de m?todos m?ltiplos. A pesquisa foi organizada em dois estudos. Como instrumento de coleta de dados comum a ambos, foi utilizado question?rio sociodemogr?fico para tra?ar o perfil dos participantes e o Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), que serviu como crit?rio de exclus?o. O Estudo I, de abordagem qualitativa, contou com a participa??o de 18 idosos moradores das cidades de Natal-RN e Campina Grande-PB, m?dia de idade de 73,3 anos (DP = 5,9), divididos em tr?s grupos focais (GF) que discutiram o conceito de QV, o que ajuda e o que atrapalha a QV. Para o estudo II, de abordagem quantitativa, 335 idosos de Campina Grande, entre 65 e 99 anos (M = 74,17; DP = 6,5) responderam a escala WHOQOL-old. Os dados dos GF foram submetidos ? an?lise categorial tem?tica de conte?do; e para an?lise dos dados da escala WHOQOL-old foram utilizados an?lise fatorial explorat?ria e c?lculo dos crit?rios de informa??o de Akaike e Bayesiana. Os resultados dos dois estudos foram triangulados. De acordo com as discuss?es nos GF, sa?de e participa??o social t?m pap?is centrais na qualidade de vida. A ?ltima estabelece rela??o com todos os demais temas suscitados. Os participantes indicam a relev?ncia da religiosidade e ficam divididos sobre a import?ncia da atividade sexual. Analise fatorial explorat?ria (EFA) extraiu um modelo de seis fatores. Dois itens (OLD_3 e OLD_9), n?o carregaram em nenhum fator e foram exclu?dos. Os demais itens apresentaram carga fatorial >0,3. As categorias de resposta foram reduzidas de cinco para tr?s. Ap?s as mudan?as na escala, o modelo emp?rico apresentou melhor ajuste (- 2loglikelihood = 8993,90; AIC = 9183,90 e BIC = 9546,24) que o modelo te?rico (- 2loglikelihood = 18390,88; AIC = 18678,88 e BIC = 19228,11). Apesar dos melhores valores de crit?rio de informa??o, o RMESA permaneceu acima do ideal (0,06). Conclui-se que o WHOQOL-old apresenta par?metros psicom?tricos abaixo do ideal na popula??o nordestina, mas as melhorias o tornaram sua utiliza??o aceit?vel. O instrumento WHOQOL-old utiliza vari?veis observ?veis que condizem com a percep??o dos participantes sobre qualidade de vida. No entanto, novas estrat?gias merecem ser testadas para refinamento da escala