Quality of life in patients with cognitive impairment: validation of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease scale in Portugal.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) is a widely used scale for the study of quality of life in patients with dementia. The aim of this study is the transcultural adaptation and validation of the QOL-AD scale in Portugal.

METHODS:

Translation and transcultural adaptation was performed according to state-of-the-art recommendations. For the validation study, 104 patient/caregiver pairs were enrolled. Patients had mild cognitive impairment or mild-to-moderate dementia (due to Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia). Participants were recruited in a dementia outpatient clinic setting and a long-term care dementia ward. An additional comparison group of 22 patients without cognitive impairment, and their proxies, was recruited in a family practice outpatient clinic. Sociodemographic information on patients and caregivers was obtained. Acceptability, reliability, and construct validity were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Internal consistency of the Portuguese version of QOL-AD was good for both patient and caregiver report (Cronbach's α = 0.867 and 0.858, respectively). Construct validity was confirmed by the correlation of patient reported QOL-AD with patient geriatric depression scale scores (ρ = -0.702, p < 0.001) and satisfaction with life scale scores (ρ = 0.543, p < 0.001). Caregiver ratings were correlated with neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) total score (ρ = -0.404, p < 0.001), NPI-distress (ρ = -0.346, p < 0.001), and patient Mini-Mental State Examination (ρ = 0.319, p < 0.01). QOL-AD patient ratings were higher than caregiver ratings (p < 0.001). Both patient- and caregiver-rated QOL-AD scores were lower in patients with cognitive impairment than in the comparison group without cognitive impairment (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

A Portuguese version of QOL-AD with consistent psychometric properties was obtained and is proposed as a useful tool for research and clinical purposes.

• Authors: Helena Bárrios, Ana Verdelho, Sofia Narciso, Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira, Rebecca Logsdon, Alexandre de Mendonça
• Journal: International psychogeriatrics (Int Psychogeriatr) Vol. 25 Issue 7 Pg. 1085-96 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1741-203X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23534370 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Caregivers (psychology)
• Cognition Disorders (diagnosis, psychology)
• Dementia (diagnosis, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Portugal
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Psychometrics
• Quality of Life (psychology)
• Reproducibility of Results