Resident health-related quality of life in Swiss nursing homes

L Chouiter; W P Wodchis; C Abderhalden; A von Gunten

doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.10.001

Resident health-related quality of life in Swiss nursing homes

Eur Psychiatry. 2015 Jul;30(5):549-54. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.10.001. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Authors

L Chouiter¹, W P Wodchis², C Abderhalden³, A von Gunten⁴

Affiliations

¹ University Service of Old-Age Psychiatry, Psychiatry Department, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences, Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address: leila.chouiter@unifr.ch.
² Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
³ Research Department, Healthy and Pedagogy Development, University Service of Psychiatry, Berne, Switzerland.
⁴ University Service of Old-Age Psychiatry, Psychiatry Department, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PMID: 25801468
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.10.001

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) levels and their determinants in those living in nursing homes are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate different HRQOL domains as a function of the degree of cognitive impairment and to explore associations between them and possible determinants of HRQOL.

Method: Five HRQOL domains using the Minimum Data Set - Health Status Index (MDS-HSI) were investigated in a large sample of nursing home residents depending on cognitive performance levels derived from the Cognitive Performance Scale. Large effect size associations between clinical variables and the different HRQOL domains were looked for.

Results: HRQOL domains are impaired to variable degrees but with similar profiles depending on the cognitive performance level. Basic activities of daily living are a major factor associated with some but not all HRQOL domains and vary little with the degree of cognitive impairment.

Limitations: This study is limited by the general difficulties related to measuring HRQOL in patients with cognitive impairment and the reduced number of variables considered among those potentially influencing HRQOL.

Conclusion: HRQOL dimensions are not all linearly associated with increasing cognitive impairment in NH patients. Longitudinal studies are required to determine how the different HRQOL domains evolve over time in NH residents.

Keywords: Geriatric psychiatry and aging; Quality of care; Quality of life.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living / psychology*
Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Cognition Disorders / psychology*
Female
Health Status*
Homes for the Aged*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Nursing Homes*
Quality of Life / psychology*
Switzerland