Background. Little attention has been given to the assessment of quality of life (QOL) in injection drug users (IDUs). Some studies have suggested that existing measures are inadequate for use in IDUs. / Objectives. The objectives were: (1) to develop and evaluate a QOL measure for IDUs, the Injection Drug User Quality of Life Scale (IDUQOL), (2) to describe the QOL of cocaine and heroin IDUs and identify its constituents and correlates, and (3) to describe the relation between the QOL of cocaine and heroin IDUs and the use of public health programs. / Methods. The psychometric properties of the IDUQOL were assessed in 61 IDUs, 85% of whom were re-interviewed within 4-weeks. The Flanagan Quality of Life Scale was used to assess the criterion validity of the IDUQOL. The IDUQOL was subsequently applied in a study of 260 Montreal IDUs to identify their most important life areas. Associations between QOL and the use of public health programs and other correlates were assessed using multiple linear regression. / Results. The IDUQOL had good psychometric properties: the test-retest reliability was within accepted standards (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.71) and the concurrent criterion validity between the IDUQOL and the Flanagan was moderate (Pearson coefficient = 0.57). In the study of 260 Montreal IDUs, housing was the most frequently selected life area of cocaine IDUs. Heroin IDUs most frequently selected money and feeling good about yourself. Both cocaine and heroin IDUs were generally dissatisfied with how these life areas fared. QOL was significantly better for HIV positive IDUs and IDUs who used meal programs, and was worse for IDUs who attended shelters and emergency departments. No strong relations were found with needle exchange program use, methadone or other drug treatment. / Conclusion. The IDUQOL appeared to be a conceptually clear and culturally relevant QOL instrument with good psychometric properties. Programs that address the life conditions of IDUs might be needed foremost to other initiatives. Understanding the constituents and correlates of the QOL of IDUs is important to the development of more effective programs to curb disease transmission, and improve the well-being of IDUs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.82835 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Brogly, Susan |
| Contributors | Franco, Eduardo (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001974326, proquestno: AAINQ88429, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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