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Development and Assessment of Chinese General Quality of Life Instrument

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Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures

Abstract:

The measurements of quality of life have been increasingly studied and gradually accepted as an important measure of health in many countries of the world since the 1960s. In China, quality of life studies begun in the 1980s. A few general quality of life questionnaires were translated into the Chinese language, such as 100-Item World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHO-QOL-100) and the 36-Item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Status Survey (SF-36). However, the sensitivity of the WHO-QOL-100 was not satisfactory for the Chinese population, while the SF-36 focused on measuring health status and does not include all facets of quality of life. Considering the great differences in culture and living habits between eastern and western populations, we carried out a series of studies to develop a general quality of life instrument (Chinese QOL-35), which included 35 items and is well in accordance with the habits of Chinese language, culture, and daily life. This article presents the development and evaluation of the Chinese QOL-35 with its reliability, validity and sensitivity, in comparison with Chinese version of WHO-QOL-100 and SF-36.

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Abbreviations

Chinese QOL-35 :

Chinese Quality of Life Measurement Form – 35 Items

EORTC QLQ-C30 :

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire 30

IIC :

Item-internal consistency

ICC :

intra-class correlation coefficients

QOL :

Quality of life

WHO-QOL-100 :

100-Item World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument

SF-36 :

36-Item Medical Outcome Study Short Form Health Status Survey

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Acknowledgment

We are very grateful to Ms. Naomi Hammond at The George Institute, China for her kind help and assistance in preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health; The George Institute, China, Beijing, China

    Y. Wu

  2. Division for CVD Prevention and Control Network, Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

    G. Xie

Authors
  1. Y. Wu
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  2. G. Xie
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Nutrition and Dietetics Nutritional Sciences Research Division School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, King's College London, Franklin‐Wilkins Building 150 Stamford Street, SE1 9NH, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy (Prof.) (Prof.)

  2. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Health Science Center 1295 N. Martin, P.O. Box 245155, 85724-5155, Tucson, AZ

    Ronald R. Watson (Prof.) (Prof.)

Appendix 1: Chinese Quality of Life 35-Items Questionnaire

Appendix 1: Chinese Quality of Life 35-Items Questionnaire

This questionnaire is used to understand your quality of life and health status in the last month. Please read carefully each question then answer it according to your actual situation and feelings by filling your chosen number in the subsequent blank square.

1. Generally speaking, how about your health status during the last month?

HQ1□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3=average; 4=good; 5=very good

 

2. Generally speaking, how about your quality of life during the last month?

HQ2□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3=average; 4=good; 5=very good

 

3. Compared to a year ago, how would you rate your quality of life now?

QT□

1=Much worse

4=somewhat better

 

2=Somewhat worse

5=much better

 

3=About the same

  

4. Did you have any difficulties in conducting the following activities during the last month,if so, how much?

Heavy physical activities (running/lifting heavy objects)

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL1□

Moderate physical activities(riding bicycle/ doing housework for at least one hour)

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL2□

Lift daily necessities (buying vegetables)

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL3□

Climbing several flights of stairs

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL4□

Climbing one flight of stair

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL5□

Bending/kneeling/ stooping

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL6□

Walking three miles

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL7□

Walking one or two miles

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL8□

Walking around house

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL9□

Bathing or dressing

1=completely couldn’t; 2=mostly couldn’t; 3=half and half; 4=mostly could; 5=no problem

IL10□

5. Did you have pain or discomfort during the last month?

 

1=very severe; 2=severe; 3=moderate; 4=mild; 5=very mild; 6=not at all

PF1□

6. Did that pain or discomfort have effect on your normal life during the last month?

PF2□

1=extremely; 2=quite a bit; 3=moderately; 4=a little bit; 5=not at all

 

7. How about your appetite during the last month?

PF3□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3=average; 4=good; 5=very good

 

8. How about your sleep during the last month?

PF4□

1=Extremely difficult; 2=Quite difficult; 3=Moderately difficult; 4=rarely difficult 5= Not difficult at all

 

9. Did you often feel fatigue/tired during the last month?

PF5□

1=always; 2=often; 3=sometimes; 4=occasionally; 5=not at all

 

10. Did you need help from medicines or treatment in your daily life during the last month?

IL11□

1=Not at all; 2=Occasionally; 3=Generally; 4=Mostly; 5=Completely

 

11. Were you satisfied with your own living ability during the last month?

IL12□

1=Very unsatisfied; 2=Unsatisfied; 3=So so; 4=Satisfied; 5=Very satisfied

 

12. How was your psycholo gical status during the last month?

 

Having self-confidence

1=Not at all; 2=A little; 3=Generally; 4=Strongly; 5=Completely

MF1□

Having living pleasure

1=Not at all; 2=Occasionally; 3=Generally; 4=Often; 5=Extremely

MF2□

Having nervousness

1=Always; 2=Often; 3=Sometimes; 4=Occasionally; 5=Not at all

MF3□

Having negative feeling (Downhearted/despaired/anxiety/ melancholy)

1=always; 2=Often; 3=Sometimes; 4=Occasionally; 5=Not at all

MF4□

Memory

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

MF5□

Attention Span (doing something for at least ten minutes)

1=Could not at all; 2=Occasionally could; 3=Generally could; 4=Mostly could; 5=Completely could

MF6□

13. How did you rate your social connections during the last month?

MF6□

Family

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

SF1□

Relative

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

SF2□

Colleague/superior/subordinate

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

SF3□

14. Could you get help or support from your family members or friends in your life during the last month?

SF4□

1=Could not at all; 2=Occasionally could; 3=Generally could; 4=Mostly could; 5=Completely could

 

15. Could you provide help or support to you family members or friends in their life during the last month?

SF5□

1=Could not at all; 2=Occasionally could; 3=Generally could; 4=Mostly could; 5=Completely could

 

16. Were you satisfied with your sex life during the last month?

SF6□

1=Very unsatisfied; 2=Unsatisfied; 3=So so; 4=Satisfied; 5=Very satisfied

 

17. Did you feel lonely during the last month?

SF7□

1=Always; 2=Often; 3=Sometimes; 4=Occasionally; 5=Not at all

 

18. How is your financial status at present?

LC1□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

 

19. How is the condition of your current residence?

LC2□

1=very bad; 2=bad; 3= average; 4=good; 5=very good

 
Table 10 Appendix 2: Standard scores for each option of answers to Chinese QOL-35 items
Full size table

Date: □□□□year □□month □□day

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Wu, Y., Xie, G. (2010). Development and Assessment of Chinese General Quality of Life Instrument. In: Preedy, V.R., Watson, R.R. (eds) Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78665-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78665-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-78664-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-78665-0

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