This article describes the initial validation study of the Quality of Life Measure for Persons With Schizophrenia (QOLM-S). This new assessment is grounded in a holistic conceptual framework, addresses occupational issues, and was developed on the basis of qualitative data collected from individuals with schizophrenia. Data were collected from 91 individuals with schizophrenia to examine aspects of reliability and validity. Results support both the internal consistency of the QOLM-S, with a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.97 for the overall scale, and concurrent validity. Correlations between the domain and total scores of the QOLM-S provide initial support for construct validity. This study supports the use of the QOLM-S as a descriptive tool. Future research to enhance the clinical utility and further examine the psychometric properties of the QOLM-S are suggested.
AnastasiO. B. (1988). Psychological testing (6th ed.). New York: MacMillan.
2.
AtkinsonM. J.ZibinS. (1996). Quality of life measurement among persons with chronic mental illness: A critique of measures and methods. Ottawa, ON: Ministry of Supply and Services.
3.
AwadA. G. (1995). Quality of life issues in medicated schizophrenic patients. In ShirquiC.NasrallahH. A. (Eds.), Contemporary issues in the treatment of schizophrenia (pp. 735–747). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
4.
BaumC.ChristiansenC. (1997). The occupational therapy context: Philosophy—principles—practices. In ChristiansenC. H.BaumC. M.Occupational therapy: Enabling function and well-being (2nd ed., pp. 2–25). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.
5.
BaumanL. J.AdairE. G. (1992). The use of ethnographic interviewing to inform questionnaire construction. Health Education Quarterly, 19(1), 9–23.
6.
BigelowD.GareauM.YoungD. (1990). A quality of life interview. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 14, 94–98.
7.
BoyerG.HacheyR.MercierC. (2000). Perceptions of occupational performance and subjective quality of life in persons with severe mental illness. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 15(2), 1–15.
8.
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (1994). Position statement on everyday occupations and health. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 294–295.
9.
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (1997). Enabling occupation. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: ACE Publications.
10.
ClarkC.ScottE.KrupaT. (1993). Involving clients in programme evaluation and research: A new methodology for occupational therapy. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60, 192–199.
11.
CramerJ. A.RosenheckR.XuW.ThomasJ.HendersonW.CharneyD. S. (2000). Quality of life in schizophrenia: A comparison of instruments. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 26, 659–666.
12.
CreeganS.WilliamsF. L. R. (1997). Supportive employment for individuals with schizophrenia: The case for a National Health Service community-based sheltered workshop. Occupational Therapy International, 4(2), 99–115.
13.
CumminsR. (1983). The Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale: Intellectual disability. Melbourne, Australia: Deakin University.
14.
DeinerE.EmmonsR. A.LarsenR. J.GriffinS. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 48, 71–75.
15.
EmmonsR. A.DienerE. (1985). Personality correlates of subjective well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 11, 89–97.
16.
FerransC. E.PowersM. J. (1992). Psychometric assessment of the Quality of Life Index. Research in Nursing and Health, 15, 29–38.
17.
HacheyR.MercierC. (1993). The impact of rehabilitation services on the quality of life of chronic mental patients. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 12(2), 1–26.
18.
JuddC. M.McClellandG. H. (1989). Data analysis: A model comparison approach. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
19.
KielhofnerG. (2002). A model of human occupation: Theory and application (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
20.
KirshB. (1996). Influences on the process of work integration: The consumer perspective. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 15, 21–37.
21.
KirshnerB.GuyattG. (1985). A methodological framework for assessing health indices. Journal of Chronic Disease, 38, 27–36.
22.
KrupaT.Radloff-GabrielD.WhippeyE.KirshB. (2002). Occupational therapy and assertive community treatment. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69, 153–157.
23.
Laliberte-RudmanD.YuB.ScottE.PajouhandehP. (2000). Exploration of the perspectives of persons with schizophrenia regarding quality of life. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54, 137–147.
24.
LawM. (1987). Measurement in occupational therapy: Scientific criteria for evaluation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54, 133–138.
25.
LawM.BaptisteS.MillsJ. (1995). Client-centred practice: What does it mean and does it make a difference?Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 250–257.
26.
LehmanA. F. (1983). The effects of psychiatric symptoms on quality of life assessment among the chronically ill. Evaluation and Program Planning, 6, 143–151.
27.
LehmanA. F. (1988). A quality of life interview for the chronically mentally ill. Evaluation and Program Planning, 11, 51–62.
28.
LehmanA. F. (1999). Developing an outcomes-oriented approach for the treatment of schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(suppl. 19), 30–35.
29.
LehmanA. F.RachubaL. T.PostradoL. (1995). Demographic influences on quality of life among persons with chronic mental illnesses. Evaluation and Program Planning, 18, 327–333.
30.
LiddleJ.McKennaK. (2000). Quality of life: An overview of issues for use in occupational therapy outcome measurement. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 47, 77–85.
31.
LordJ. (1989). The potential of consumer participation: Sources of understanding. Canada's Mental Health, 37(2), 15–17.
32.
MayersC. A. (1995). Defining and assessing quality of life. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58, 146–150.
33.
McKennaK. (1993). Quality of life: A question of functional outcomes or the fulfillment of life plans. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 40, 33–35.
34.
McKennaS. P. (1997). Measuring quality of life in schizophrenia. European Psychiatry, 12(suppl. 3), 267–274.
35.
NelsonC. W.NiederbergerJ. (1990). Patient satisfaction surveys: An opportunity for total quality improvement. Hospital and Health Sciences Administration, 35, 409–427.
36.
OliverJ. (1992). The social care directive: Development of a quality of life profile for use in community services for the mentally ill. Social Work and Social Services Review, 3, 5–45.
37.
PolatajkoH. J. (1994). Dreams, dilemmas and decisions for occupational therapy practice in a new millennium: A Canadian perspective. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48, 590–594.
38.
RadomskiM. V. (1995). There is more to life than putting on your pants. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49, 487–490.
39.
RaphaelD. (1996). Quality of life of older adults: Towards the optimization of the aging process. In RenwickR.BrownI.NaglerM. (Eds.), Quality of life in health promotion and rehabilitation (pp. 290–306). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
40.
RenwickR. (1998). Quality of life: A guiding framework for practice with adults who have developmental disabilities. In RossM.BachnerS. (Eds.), Adults with developmental disabilities: Current approaches in occupational therapy (pp. 23–41). Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.
41.
RenwickR.BrownI. (1996). The Centre for Health Promotion approach to quality of life: Being, belonging, and becoming. In RenwickR.BrownI.NaglerM. (Eds.), Quality of life in health promotion and rehabilitation: Conceptual approaches, issues, and applications (pp. 75–88). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
42.
RenwickR.BrownI.RaphaelD. (1994). Quality of life: Linking a conceptual approach to service provision. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 3, 32–44.
43.
RenwickR.BrownI.RaphaelD. (2000). Person-centred quality of life: Canadian contributions to an international understanding. In KeithK.SchalockR. (Eds.), Cross-cultural perspectives on quality of life (pp. 5–21). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation.
44.
RenwickR.ReidD. (1992). Life satisfaction of parents of adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Validation of a new instrument. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 12, 296–312.
45.
RuggeriM.BisoffiG.FontecedroL.WarnerR. (2001). Subjective and objective dimensions of quality of life in psychiatric patients: A factor analytical approach. British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, 268–275.
46.
SainfortF.BeckerM.DiamondR. (1996). Judgments of quality of life of individuals with severe mental illness: Patient self-report versus provider perspectives. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 497–503.
47.
SimmonsS. (1994). Quality of life in community mental health care: A review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 31, 183–193.
48.
SoY. P.TogliaJ.DonohueM. V. (1997). A study of memory functions in chronic schizophrenia patients. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 13(2), 1–24.
49.
StrongS.RigbyP.StewartD.LawM.LettsL.CooperB. (1999). Application of the Person-Environment Occupation Model: A practical tool. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 122–133.
50.
WelhamJ. L.HaireM.StedmanT. J.MercerD. (1998). Integrating quality of life assessment into consumer-focused research. Schizophrenia Research, 29, 191.
51.
WilcockA. A. (1993). A theory of the human need for occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 1, 17–24.
52.
YerxaE. J. (1994). Dreams, dilemmas and decisions for occupational therapy practice in a new millennium: An American perspective. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48, 586–589.
