Psychometric properties of the interRAI subjective quality of life Instrument for mental health

Abstract

A new Subjective Quality of Life (SQoL) Instrument for inpatient and community mental health settings was developed by the interRAI research collaborative to support evaluation of quality in mental health settings from the person’s perspective. Ratings of SQoL provide important information about the quality of service and patient experience with the care they receive. This i nformation can help staff to improve approaches to each person’s plan of care in a manner that is meaningful to the individual. This study examined the reliability of the SQoL-MH. 83 inpatients from several clinical departments in a mental health center in South Western Ontario, Canada were randomly assigned to either be interviewed or complete the assessment on his or her own. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha. A preliminary factor analysis points to four SQoL-MH subscales with very good internal consistency, ranging from 0.83 to 0.90. Once finalized, the Subjective Quality of Life instrument will be integral to the interRAI suite of instruments used to assess persons with mental health needs. A reliable and valid SQoL-MH instrument will allow mental health service providers to shape or modify care environments in order to enhance quality of life. In addition, the SQoL-MH instrument could also benefit advocacy groups who use reports on quality of life to influence social policy development and funding decisions.