The integration of mixed methods data to develop the quality of life – aged care consumers (QOL-ACC) instrument

BMC Geriatrics

Megan Corlis¹  Julie Ratcliffe²  Ruth Walker²  Claire Hutchinson²  Rachel Milte²  Jyoti Khadka³  Jenny Cleland⁴  Victoria Cornell⁵  Candice McBain⁶ 

[1] Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), Adelaide, Australia;Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia;College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia;Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia;College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia;Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia;College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia;ECH Aged Care, Adelaide, Australia;John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;

关键词: Aged care;    Economic evaluation;    Measuring outcomes;    Mixed methods;    Older people;    Quality of life;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02614-y

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis paper describes the collection and integration of mixed methods data to facilitate the final selection of items for the Quality of Life – Aged Care Consumers (QOL-ACC) instrument. The aim of the wider project is to develop a preference-based quality of life instrument that can be used for quality assessment and economic evaluation. Older people have been involved at every stage of the development of the QOL-ACC to ensure that the final instrument captures their perspectives and preferences.MethodsMixed methods data was collected on draft items for the QOL-ACC instrument across six key quality of life dimensions (mobility, pain management, emotional well-being, independence, social connections, and activities). Qualitative face validity data was collected from older people (aged 66 to 100 years) living in the community and in residential aged care via semi-structured interviews (n = 59). Quantitative data was collected from older people (aged 65 to 91 years) receiving aged care services in the community via an online survey (n = 313). A traffic light pictorial approach was adopted as a practical and systematic way to categorise and present data in a meaningful way that was easy for non-academic workshop members to understand and to be able to discuss the relative merits of each draft item.ResultsThe traffic light approach supported the involvement of consumer and aged care provider representatives in the selection of the final items. Six items were selected for the QOL-ACC instrument with one item representing each of the six dimensions.ConclusionsThis methodological approach has ensured that the final instrument is psychometrically robust as well as meaningful, relevant and acceptable to aged care consumers and providers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY