The Dartmouth Primary Care COOP Charts are used to characterize the health-
related quality of life of patients in five clinics operated by the Cheroke
e Nation of Oklahoma. A profile of COOP scores for order Native American pa
tients is presented, as well as the relationships of COOP scores with selec
ted health-related and sociodemographic variables, a partial assessment of
construct validity. Data are from a nonprobability sample of adult patients
surveyed in 1995 and 1997. This article reports on 157 patients age 55 to
87. More limitations were reported in relation to physical function, bodily
pain, and health perceptions. Fewer limitations were reported in social ac
tivities and social support. Correlations among COOP dimensions were simila
r to other studies of chronic disease patients. There was substantial, alth
ough partial, agreement between expected and observed relationships, partic
ularly for the health variables. The easily administered COOP charts can im
prove communication across barriers of class, race, and generation to encou
rage better quality of care and quality of life for older Native American p
atients.