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Validity, reliability, and feasibility of a quality of life questionnaire for people with dementia

Validität, Reliabilität und Anwendbarkeit eines Lebensqualitätsfragebogens für Menschen mit Demenz

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Abstract

The present study investigates the validity, reliability, and applicability of the German version of the QUALIDEM, which is used to measure the quality of life of people with dementia in nursing homes. The sample consists of data from 203 people (average age 84 ± 9 years, 74% female) with mild to moderate dementia and 283 persons (average age 86 ± 8 years, 79% female) with severe to very severe dementia. These are baseline data from two lighthouse projects on dementia (STI-D and InDemA). The investigation of the feasibility is based on four expert interviews. The construct validity of the 37-item version of the QUALIDEM shown by the factors satisfied behavior, unapproachable and unsatisfied behavior, positive self-image, negative affect, social relations, feeling at home, restless tense behavior, and having something to do were identified. Furthermore, for the 18-item version the following four factors were computed: satisfied behavior, unapproachable and unsatisfied behavior, restless tense behavior, and negative affect. Cronbach’s α values for the determined factors are between 0.64 and 0.87 (37-item version) and between 0.61 and 0.83 (18-item version), which corresponds with a medium to high reliability (internal consistency). Furthermore, the student assistants assessed the QUALIDEM as applicable and practical.

Zusammenfassung

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht die Validität, Reliabilität und Anwendbarkeit der deutschsprachigen Version des QUALIDEM, mit dessen Hilfe die Lebensqualität von Menschen mit Demenz in der stationären Altenpflege erfasst werden kann. Die Stichprobe besteht aus Daten von 203 Menschen (mittleres Alter 84 ± 9 Jahre, 74% weiblich) mit einer leichten bis mittleren Demenz und 283 Personen (mittleres Alter 86 ± 8 Jahre, 79% weiblich) mit einer schweren bis sehr schweren Demenz. Grundlage sind die Basisdaten aus zwei Leuchtturmprojekten Demenz (STI-D und InDemA). Zur Untersuchung der Anwendbarkeit erfolgten vier Experteninterviews. Die Konstruktvalidität der 37-Item-Version des QUALIDEM zeigt sich anhand der Faktoren zufriedenes Verhalten, unzugängliches und unzufriedenes Verhalten, positive Selbstwahrnehmung, negativer Affekt, soziale Beziehungen, sich zu Hause fühlen, ruheloses, angespanntes Verhalten und etwas zu tun haben. Daneben konnten für die 18-Item-Version die Faktoren zufriedenes Verhalten, unzugängliches und unzufriedenes Verhalten, ruheloses, angespanntes Verhalten und negativer Affekt berechnet werden. Die Cronbachs α-Werte für die ermittelten Faktoren liegen zwischen 0,64 und 0,87 (37-Item-Version) sowie zwischen 0,61 und 0,83 (18-Item-Version) und entsprechen somit einer mittleren bis hohen internen Konsistenz als Reliabilität. Ferner wurde das QUALIDEM von den Ratern als anwendbar und praktikabel eingeschätzt.

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Conflict of interest

The corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgment

For the providing of data, we would like to thank the two teams of the STI-D und InDemA project. We also thank the student raters for their willingness to participate in the expert interviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Stockumer Str. 12, 58453, Witten, Germany

    M. Dichter MScN, S. Bartholomeyczik & M. Halek

  2. Department für Pflegewissenschaft, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Witten/Herdecke, Germany

    M. Dichter MScN & S. Bartholomeyczik

  3. Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    J. Nordheim

  4. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    W. Achterberg

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  1. M. Dichter MScN
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  2. S. Bartholomeyczik
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  3. J. Nordheim
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  4. W. Achterberg
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  5. M. Halek
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Correspondence to M. Dichter MScN.

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Dichter, M., Bartholomeyczik, S., Nordheim, J. et al. Validity, reliability, and feasibility of a quality of life questionnaire for people with dementia. Z Gerontol Geriat 44, 405–410 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-011-0235-9

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