The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS): Reliability, Validity, and Utilization

• Main Authors: Anderson Kathryn L, Burckhardt Carol S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2003-10-01
• Series: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
• Subjects: Quality of Life Scale; QOLS; chronic illness outcomes; quality of life evaluation
• Online Access: http://www.hqlo.com/content/1/1/60

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), created originally by American psychologist John Flanagan in the 1970's, has been adapted for use in chronic illness groups. This paper reviews the development and psychometric testing of the QOLS. A descriptive review of the published literature was undertaken and findings summarized in the frequently asked questions format. Reliability, content and construct validity testing has been performed on the QOLS and a number of translations have been made. The QOLS has low to moderate correlations with physical health status and disease measures. However, content validity analysis indicates that the instrument measures domains that diverse patient groups with chronic illness define as quality of life. The QOLS is a valid instrument for measuring quality of life across patient groups and cultures and is conceptually distinct from health status or other causal indicators of quality of life.</p>