TY - JOUR
T1 - Meaning behind measurement
T2 - Self-comparisons affect responses to health-related quality of life questionnaires
AU - Robertson, Clare
AU - Langston, Anne L.
AU - Stapley, Sally
AU - McColl, Elaine
AU - Campbell, Marion K.
AU - Fraser, William D.
AU - MacLennan, Graeme
AU - Selby, Peter L.
AU - Ralston, Stuart H.
AU - Fayers, Peter M.
PY - 2009/3/1
Y1 - 2009/3/1
N2 - Purpose: The subjective nature of quality of life is particularly pertinent to the domain of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) research. The extent to which participants' responses are affected by subjective information and personal reference frames is unknown. This study investigated how an elderly population living with a chronic metabolic bone disorder evaluated self-reported quality of life. Methods: Participants (n = 1,331) in a multi-centre randomised controlled trial for the treatment of Paget's disease completed annual HRQOL questionnaires, including the SF-36, EQ-5D and HAQ. Supplementary questions were added to reveal implicit reference frames used when making HRQOL evaluations. Twenty-one participants (11 male, 10 female, aged 59-91 years) were interviewed retrospectively about their responses to the supplementary questions, using cognitive interviewing techniques and semi-structured topic guides. Results: The interviews revealed that participants used complex and interconnected reference frames to promote response shift when making quality of life evaluations. The choice of reference frame often reflected external factors unrelated to individual health. Many participants also stated that they were unclear whether to report general or disease-related HRQOL. Conclusions: It is important, especially in clinical trials, to provide instructions clarifying whether 'quality of life' refers to disease-related HRQOL. Information on self-comparison reference frames is necessary for the interpretation of responses to questions about HRQOL.
AB - Purpose: The subjective nature of quality of life is particularly pertinent to the domain of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) research. The extent to which participants' responses are affected by subjective information and personal reference frames is unknown. This study investigated how an elderly population living with a chronic metabolic bone disorder evaluated self-reported quality of life. Methods: Participants (n = 1,331) in a multi-centre randomised controlled trial for the treatment of Paget's disease completed annual HRQOL questionnaires, including the SF-36, EQ-5D and HAQ. Supplementary questions were added to reveal implicit reference frames used when making HRQOL evaluations. Twenty-one participants (11 male, 10 female, aged 59-91 years) were interviewed retrospectively about their responses to the supplementary questions, using cognitive interviewing techniques and semi-structured topic guides. Results: The interviews revealed that participants used complex and interconnected reference frames to promote response shift when making quality of life evaluations. The choice of reference frame often reflected external factors unrelated to individual health. Many participants also stated that they were unclear whether to report general or disease-related HRQOL. Conclusions: It is important, especially in clinical trials, to provide instructions clarifying whether 'quality of life' refers to disease-related HRQOL. Information on self-comparison reference frames is necessary for the interpretation of responses to questions about HRQOL.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=59849107931&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11136-008-9435-1
DO - 10.1007/s11136-008-9435-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 19142744
AN - SCOPUS:59849107931
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 18
SP - 221
EP - 230
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
IS - 2
ER -