MEASURING QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN HOSPICE PATIENTS USING A NEWLY DEVELOPEDHOSPICE QUALITY-OF-LIFE INDEX

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the newly developed Hospice Quality of Life Index (HQLI). Sixty-ei ght patient/caregiver dyads from one hospice were asked to fill out th e HQLI on admission and after 3 weeks of hospice care. Hospice experts evaluated the items on the tool to assess content validity. The conte nt validity index (0.83) and the alpha coefficients (r = 0.87 and 0.83 ) supported the validity and reliability of the HQLI. Item analysis re vealed items with which patients were most satisfied and aspects of qu ality of life that were considered to be most important.