Inferring quality of life from performance-based assessments.
OBJECTIVE
Performance based measures have been suggested as an approach to estimate quality of life, but the associations have not been extensively evaluated. This study's purpose was to determine the associations between quality of life and performance based assessments of disablements in community dwelling individuals post-stroke.


METHODS
Forty five people were evaluated in a cross-sectional pilot study. The subjects' quality of life (SF-36), ability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL), manual dexterity, mobility, neurological impairment, and perception of lateral neglect were evaluated. Multiple regression was employed to find the strongest associations.


RESULTS
Neurological impairment explained 34% of the variation in the women's physical health summary score (PCS) of the SF-36. Instrumental ADL and neurological impairment together explained 66% of the women's mental health summary score (MCS) of the SF-36. Manual dexterity of the hemiplegic hand explained 39% of the variation in the men's PCS.


CONCLUSIONS
Performance based measures may be useful to estimate quality of life in non-communicative individuals.
McEwen
S
S
Rehabilitation Services, Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. john.johnstone@sympatico.ca
Mayo
N
N
Wood-Dauphinee
S
S
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation