The Lancashire Quality of Life Profile : modification and psychometric evaluation

• Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 36 - 44
• Main Authors: VAN NIEUWENHUIZEN, Ch, SCHENE, A. H, KOETER, M. W. J, HUXLEY, P. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.01.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental health care; Middle Aged; Missing data; Netherlands; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life; Quantitative psychology; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Techniques and methods; Netherlands; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Europe; Human; Test validation; Construct validity; Foreign language version; Evaluation scale; Mental disorder; Psychometrics; Revised drafting; Test reliability; Dutch; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0933-7954; 1433-9285
• DOI: 10.1007/s001270050288

Although widely used in Europe, the conceptual and psychometric qualities of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP) have not been thoroughly examined. Four issues need attention: coverage, scale construction, systematic missing data, and psychometric properties. Concept mapping was used to examine the coverage, and exploratory factor analysis to examine the empirical scale structure of the LQoLP. Data of 518 long-term patients from ten different mental health care settings were used. Modifications to the LQoLP were proposed on the basis of these findings, and its psychometric properties were tested. Thirty-one respondents participated in a test-retest reliability study (T1-T2: 2 weeks). The modified LQoLP covers the quality of life-concept in a more comprehensive manner. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity are good. The modified version of the LQoLP now covers ten domains, paying specific attention to patients' definition of quality of life (autonomy, coping, self-worth). Domains are now based on factor analysis. The problem of systematic missing data is solved. Psychometric properties are good. Because of moderate alphas, two domains need further investigation.