Development and validation of a quality of life instrument for patients with drug dependence: Comparisons with SF-36 and WHOQOL-100

Abstract

Aim Our goal was to develop a self-administered quality of life scale for patients with drug addiction/dependence (QOL-DA) and compare it with the SF-36 and the WHOQOL-100. Methods Employing theory and methodology of rating scale construction, a self-administered quality of life instrument for individuals with drug dependence QOL-DA was developed and evaluated utilizing responses from 212 drug-dependent subjects at the Kunming Municipal Mandatory Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center in China. Quality of life was measured using the SF-36, WHOQOL-100 and QOL-DA three times during the detoxification. Results Test-retest reliability in the domains of physical function, psychological function, social function and toxicity were 0.82, 0.64, 0.78, and 0.76, respectively. Cronbach's coefficient α for the 4 domains was 0.87,0.89,0.93 and 0.86, respectively. Correlations and factor analysis showed good construct validity. Criterion-related and convergent validity was confirmed by using the SF-36 and the WHOQOL-100 simultaneously. The instrument does show the change in QOL after two weeks of detoxification with higher standardized response mean higher than that of SF-36 and WHOQOL-100. Conclusion The instrument developed has good validity, reliability and better responsiveness than instruments currently used, and can be employed effectively to measure the quality of life of individuals with drug dependence.

Comparison and concordance of health-related quality of life tests among substance users

“…In recent years, specific tests have been developed to assess quality of life in the context of substance use, including the Injection Drug Users Quality of Life Scale (IDUQOL) [ 6 , 7 ]; the Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DA) [ 8 ]; and the Health-Related Quality of Life for Drug Abusers test (HRQOLDA) [ 9 , 10 ]. By contrast, the Drug User Quality of Life Scale is a specific instrument, which was originally developed to assess the quality of life of intravenous substance users [ 6 , 7 ]; a later version has been adapted for substance users irrespective of their methods of self-administration (DUQOL) [ 11 ].…”

The Effect of Acupuncture on Chemotherapy-Associated Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Gastric Cancer

“…The comprehensiveness of the questionnaire provides a detailed reflection of the life and health status of an individual; consequently, it has been widely utilized in clinical practice [18][19][20][21] . Based on their experiences or condition during the preceding 2 weeks, subjects score each question on a scale of 1-5.…”

Anxiety and Its Influencing Factors in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Users

“…QOL-DA is a valid, reliable and responsive instrument for measuring the quality of life of opioid dependent individuals 22 . The QOL-DA was developed by Chong-hua Wan in 1997 for drug-dependent patients in China.…”

“…The QOL-DA was developed by Chong-hua Wan in 1997 for drug-dependent patients in China. The QOL-DA consists of 40 items that measure four dimensions include physiology, psychology, society and symptoms 22 . The reliability of the overall items, physiology, psychology, symptoms and society was 0.866, 0.795, 0.826, 0.914 and 0.714 22,23 .…”