title: Towards more effective public health programming for injection drug users: development and evaluation of the injection drug user quality of life scale.
abstract: The psychometric properties of the Injection Drug User Quality of Life Scale (IDUQOL) were assessed in 61 Montreal IDUs in 2001, 85% of whom were reinterviewed within four weeks. The reliability of the IDUQOL was acceptable (ICC = 0.71) and concordance between the IDUQOL and the Flanagan Quality of Life Scale was moderate (Pearson coefficient = 0.57). Quality of life was negatively associated with injection cocaine and emergency department use with both instruments; these results were more striking for the IDUQOL. The IDUQOL is a culturally relevant quality of life instrument with good psychometric properties. The IDUQOL may be useful in the development and evaluation of interventions for IDUs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brogly
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palepu
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires