MEASURING QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN THE FRAIL ELDERLY

This study was carried out to develop and test the Geriatric Quality o f Life Questionnaire (GQLQ), a health-related qualify of life (HRQL) q uestionnaire designed for the frail elderly. One hundred patients were asked to identify areas of their daily lives affected by their health . The GQLQ, developed on the basis of the results, the Rand Physical a nd Emotional Function Questionnaires, and the Barthel Index, were admi nistered serially to a group of 76 patients participating in a randomi zed trial of a Geriatric Day Hospital. Participants in all phases of t he study were over 65 years of age, living in their own home but with sufficient functional status impairment to compromise their ability to live independently. The GQLQ includes 25 questions focusing on activi ties of daily living (ADL), symptoms, and emotional function. In the A DL and Symptom domains respondents define personal problem areas. The responsiveness coefficients of the GQLQ ADL and Symptom domains (0.26 and 0.30 respectively) were similar to those of the Rand Physical Func tion instrument and the Barthel Index (0.29 and 0.20). The responsiven ess coefficient of the GQLQ Emotional Function domain (0.50) was simil ar to that of the Rand Emotional Function instrument (0.63). Correlati ons between the GQLQ ADL domain and the Barthel Index (0.41), and betw een GQLQ and the Rand Physical Function instrument (0.30), were simila r to the correlation between the Barthel Index and Rand Physical Funct ion (0.40). While the GQLQ captures important areas of health-related quality of life impairment for the frail elderly, we failed to show an y advantages in either responsiveness or validity to existing, simpler measures. New, specific instruments should be tested in head-to-head comparisons with existing measures, particularly generic instruments, before dissemination.