Quality of Life for Individuals with Schizophrenia: Validating an Assessment That Addresses Client Concerns and Occupational Issues

Abstract

This article describes the initial validation study of the Quality of Life Measure for Persons With Schizophrenia (QOLM-S). This new assessment is grounded in a holistic conceptual framework, addresses occupational issues, and was developed on the basis of qualitative data collected from individuals with schizophrenia. Data were collected from 91 individuals with schizophrenia to examine aspects of reliability and validity. Results support both the internal consistency of the QOLM-S, with a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.97 for the overall scale, and concurrent validity. Correlations between the domain and total scores of the QOLM-S provide initial support for construct validity. This study supports the use of the QOLM-S as a descriptive tool. Future research to enhance the clinical utility and further examine the psychometric properties of the QOLM-S are suggested.

User-perceived utility of the Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile

“…Gathering users’ perspectives is essential to understand how the tool is received and what impact it has on the user (McColl et al, 2000; Smart, 2006; Toomey et al, 1995). Engaging potential users in the development and evaluation of assessments has been recommended and defined as a client-centred approach (see Gray et al, 2006; Hammel et al, 2008; Laliberte Rudman et al, 2004; McColl et al, 2000). Obtaining feedback early on in the assessment development process can allow researchers to address or prevent difficulties related to the constructs or process of completing the instrument (Willis, 2005).…”

“…Understanding users’ perceptions of self-report clinical tools is important to ensure that users perceive the tools as valuable. Engaging potential users in the development of such tools has been recognized increasingly as an important step (see Gray, Hollingsworth, Stark, & Morgan, 2006; Hammel et al, 2008; Laliberte Rudman, Hoffman, Scott, & Renwick, 2004). The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the PPR Profile from the perspective of the users.…”

Profiles of Occupational Engagement in People with Schizophrenia (POES): The Development of a New Instrument Based on Time-Use Diaries

“…The assumption that engagement in occupations affects health and influences quality of life is commonly held among occupational therapists (Meyer 1922, Yerxa 1998, Kielhofner 2002 and research has found that there is a substantial relationship between how people with schizophrenia engage in daily occupations and their health and quality of life (Eklund et al 2001, Laliberte-Rudman et al 2004, Chan et al 2005, Eklund and Bäckström 2005. Furthermore, it has been emphasised that occupational engagement is related to the stage of illness (Brown 1998, Nagle et al 2002, Bejerholm andEklund, in press) and that cognitive and attentional resources related to the stage of illness influence the ability to interact with the immediate environment and thus engage in occupations (Green et al 2000, McKibbin et al 2004.…”

Individuelle Lebensqualität, ein Leben lang: Inhaltliche Relevanz und Anwendbarkeit des „Quality of Life Profile, Seniors Version” im deutschen Sprachraum

“…gerontopsychiatrischen Leitlinien und als wesentliche Bezugsgrçße bei der Entwicklung rehabilitativer und gesundheitsfçrdernder Programme ( [1], 26). Auch in der Ergotherapie spielt dieses Konstrukt eine hervorgehobene Rolle, wobei die Fokussierung der Lebensqualität als wesentlicher Bestandteil der ergotherapeutischen Praxis gilt ( [37], [20], S.14, [24]). Um Informationen über die subjektiv wahrgenommene Lebensqualität in den ergotherapeutischen Prozess einzubeziehen, werden valide und reliable Assessments bençtigt, die eine klientenzentrierte Befunderhebung und Therapieevaluation ermçglichen.…”