NEWS FROM THE QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH UNIT
Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto
Volume I, Number 4, February 1997
Quality of Life Research Updates
Seniors' Quality of Life
During the Spring of 1993, seniors' and service providers'
views concerning what makes for QOL were incorporated
into a Seniors' Quality of Life Profile (QOLPSV) (111
items). The research was carried out as a project of the
North York Community Health Promotion Research
Unit, a partnership of the Centre and the North York
Public Health Department.
The QOLPSV underwent validation with 205 seniors
living in the community. Short (54 items) and Brief (27
items) versions of the QOLPSV have been developed and
validated.
Current Applications
The following are sites where versions of the Seniors'
Quality of Life Profile are being applied:
1. Downsview Seniors Services. Incorporation into
Ongoing Agency Activities.
2. University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing Home Health
Study.
3. Queens University & Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox &
Addington Health Unit. Evaluation of Home Care.
4. University of Western Ontario. Seniors Independence
Research Program.
Papers and instruments are available from the QOL
Research Unit. Contact Ivan Brown at (416) 978-1102
([log in to unmask]). For information about
ongoing projects, Dennis Raphael, University of Toronto,
(416) 978-7567 ([log in to unmask]).
References
Raphael, D., Brown, I., Renwick, R., Cava, M.,
Heathcote, H., & Weir, N. (1995). The quality of life of
seniors living in the community: A conceptualization
with implications for public health practice. Can J Public
Health, 86, 228-233.
Raphael, D., Smith, T., Brown, I., & Renwick, R.
(1995). Development and properties of the short and brief
versions of the Quality of Life Profile: Seniors Version.
Intl J Health Sciences, 6, 161-168.
Adolescents' Quality of Life
Adolescent health has become an increasingly important
focus. In contrast to other age groups, mortality and
morbidity rates for 10-25 year olds have increased the
past few decades and there is evidence that the health
status of adolescents is poorer than was the case for their
parents.
Why a Quality of Life Perspective?
Examining adolescent health within a quality of life
perspective achieves various aims. First, a quality of life
approach helps identify determinants of adolescent health
which may not have been considered to date. Second, a
quality of life perspective draws attention to determinants
of health at a range of levels: personal factors, i.e.,
attitudes and beliefs, community factors, i.e., family,
peers, employment, and schools, and structural factors,
i.e., income distribution, and educational and
employment opportunities. Third, a quality of life
approach considers the views of adolescents themselves.
Finally, a quality of life perspective can be linked to
health promotion and rehabilitation perspectives.
Issues identified as important by adolescents were
included in the 54 item Quality of Life Profile:
Adolescent Version (QOLPAV). QOLPAV scores were
related to alcohol and tobacco use and coping and
adjustment among 175 Sudbury adolescents.
The QOLPAV has been distributed for potential use to
adolescent health workers. These include researchers at
the Edmund Muskie Research Centre in Maine and The
Australian Institute of Family Studies in Melbourne. For
information contact D. Raphael or I. Brown at the
numbers provided above.
References
Raphael, D., Rukholm, E., Brown, I., & Bailey,
N. (1996). The Quality of Life Profile - Adolescent
Version: Background, description, and initial validation.
J Adol Health,19, 366-375.
Raphael, D., Brown, I., Rukholm, E., & Bailey,
N (1996). Adolescent health: Moving from prevention to
promotion through a quality of life approach. Canadian
Journal of Public Health, 87, 81-83.
Introducing The Quality of Life Profile for Persons
with Physical and Sensory Disabilities (QOLP-PSD)
Background
The health and quality of life of persons with physical
and sensory disabilities has been relatively neglected in
the past. However, in the last two decades the rise of the
consumer movement and the efforts of disability rights
advocates have served to emphasize the importance of
these issues. Researchers, professionals, and policy
developers in the health and social services are now
increasingly focusing not simply on interventions to
prevent further disabilities or treat disabilities but also on
fostering and promoting the health and quality of life of
individuals in this population. Accordingly, they are
seeking valid, reliable instruments which are appropriate
for use with this population and can assess their quality
of life and health and evaluate the outcomes of
interventions aimed at enhancing their quality of life and
health. Instruments which are tied to a well-defined
conceptual base, psychometrically sound, and
meaningful to persons with these disabilities are
considered to particularly useful for this assessment,
evaluation, and research. Instruments with all three
attributes are rare.
The QOLP-PSD
The Quality of Life Profile for Persons with Physical and
Sensory Disabilities (QOLP-PSD) is a new instrument
(111 items) tailored to adults in this population. It
assesses quality of life in 9 domains, including physical
and mental health and well-being. The QOLP-PSD has
been developed gggand tested by a multidisciplinary
group of researchers with active participation by persons
who have physical and sensory disabilities. The QOLP-PSD is based on the Centre for Health Promotion
conceptual model of quality of life (see Renwick &
Brown, 1996) and was developed through a series of
indepth interviews and a critical review process with
adults with physical and sensory disabilities. Validation
of the QOLP-PSD demonstrates strong validity and
reliability. Development of a briefer version of the
QOLP-PSD is progressing.
For further information about the QOLP-PSD , contact
Dr. Rebecca Renwick, University of Toronto, (416) 978-1818, [log in to unmask]
References
Renwick, R., & Brown, I. (1996). The Centre for
Health Promotion approach to quality of life: Being,
belonging, and becoming. In R. Renwick, I. Brown, & M.
Nagler (eds.), Quality of life in health promotion and
rehabilitation: Conceptual approaches, issues, and
applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Rudman, D., Renwick, R., Raphael, D. & Brown,
I. (1995) The Quality of Life Profile for adults with
physical disabilities. Can J Occ Therapy, 62, 25.
Province-Wide Study of Persons with Developmental
Disabilities
This extensive longitudinal project has collected data
from 504 persons. A description of the approach and
instrumentation is available as are details concerning this
ongoing study.
Reference
Raphael, D., Brown, I., Renwick, R. & Rootman,
I. (1996). Assessing the quality of life of persons with
developmental disabilities: Description of a new model,
measuring instruments, and initial findings. International
Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 43,
25-42.
Now Available
Quality of Life in Health Promotion and
Rehabilitation: Conceptual Approaches, Issues, and
Applications (R. Renwick, I. Brown, & M. Nagler, eds.)
is available from Sage. The volume examines conceptual
frameworks for understanding and discussing quality of
life and issues in employing the concept in research,
service provision, and policy development for persons
with and without disabilities.
It focuses attention on specific applications of quality of
life. For example, the book discusses quality of life in the
context of: current social issues such as HIV and
homelessness; abilities and disabilities such as
communication disorders and the aging process; and life
activities such as work and leisure. Contributing authors
represent a broad spectrum of disciplines and
perspectives. The book will be of interest to researchers,
students, and service providers.
For more information contact Dr. Rebecca Renwick,
University of Toronto, (416) 978-1818. To order by e-mail: [log in to unmask]; by phone: (805) 499-9774;
By fax: (805) 499-0871.
It is also available at the University of Toronto Bookstore
on College Street.
***********************************
That which is sure is not sure.
As things are, they shall not remain.
-Bertolt Brecht
***********************************
Dennis Raphael, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Associate Professor
University of Toronto
Division of Community Health
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Behavioural Science
McMurrich Building, Room 101
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8
Tel: (416) 978-7567
Fax: (416) 978-2087
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
|
