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Validation of the Care-Related Quality of Life Instrument in different study settings: findings from The Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Survey Minimum DataSet (TOPICS-MDS)

  • J.E. Lutomski*
  • , N.J.A. van Exel
  • , G.I.J.M. Kempen
  • , E.P. Moll van Charante
  • , W.P.J. den Elzen
  • , A.P.D. Jansen
  • , P.F.M. Krabbe
  • , B. Steunenberg
  • , E.W. Steyerberg
  • , M.G.M. Olde Rikkert
  • , R.J.F. Melis
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Validity is a contextual aspect of a scale which may differ across sample populations and study protocols. The objective of our study was to validate the Care-Related Quality of Life Instrument (CarerQol) across two different study design features, sampling framework (general population vs. different care settings) and survey mode (interview vs. written questionnaire).

Methods: Data were extracted from The Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Minimum DataSet (TOPICS-MDS, (www.topics-mds.eu), a pooled public-access data set with information on > 3,000 informal caregivers throughout the Netherlands. Meta-correlations and linear mixed models between the CarerQol's seven dimensions (CarerQol-7D) and caregiver's level of happiness (CarerQol-VAS) and self-rated burden (SRB) were performed.

Results: The CarerQol-7D dimensions were correlated to the CarerQol-VAS and SRB in the pooled data set and the subgroups. The strength of correlations between CarerQol-7D dimensions and SRB was weaker among caregivers who were interviewed versus those who completed a written questionnaire. The directionality of associations between the CarerQol-VAS, SRB and the CarerQol-7D dimensions in the multivariate model supported the construct validity of the CarerQol in the pooled population. Significant interaction terms were observed in several dimensions of the CarerQol-7D across sampling frame and survey mode, suggesting meaningful differences in reporting levels.

Conclusions: Although good scientific practice emphasises the importance of re-evaluating instrument properties in individual research studies, our findings support the validity and applicability of the CarerQol instrument in a variety of settings. Due to minor differential reporting, pooling CarerQol data collected using mixed administration modes should be interpreted with caution; for TOPICS-MDS, meta-analytic techniques may be warranted.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1281-1293
Number of pages13
JournalQuality of Life Research
Volume24
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2015

Keywords

  • CarerQol-7D
  • Caregivers
  • Quality of life
  • Geriatric health services
  • Visual analogue scale
  • METAANALYSES
  • BURDEN
  • FAMILY
  • IMPACT
  • BIAS

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