[Reference population values of the Spanish version of the COOP/WONCA charts of quality of life in an urban adult population].
OBJECTIVE
We intended to obtain reference population values of the COOP/WONCA charts of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among a Spanish urban adult population.


METHODS
Cross sectional study based on data from the Survey of Health of the City of Madrid 2005. 7341 adults were selected by biphasic cluster sampling. The variable HRQOL was measured through COOP/WONCA charts of quality of life (9 dimensions), culturally validated for Spanish people. Other variables included age, sex, marital status, and social class, zone of origin and level of education. Statistical treatment included descriptive statistics for the dimensions and summation of HRQOL, significance tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, ANOVA), analysis of internal consistency and correlation.


RESULTS
Highest mean values were found in the dimensions Changes in the State of Health, Health Status, Physical Form and Social Support. The average value of the dimensions and the summation of HRQOL increased significantly with age, and in parallel to a lowering of the social class and depending on the country of origin (higher in native people). They were also higher in women. The alpha of Cronbach for the questionnaire was 0.77.


CONCLUSIONS
Reference population values were obtained for a Spanish urban adult population according to sex, age, social class and status of native or immigrant people. All ratings increased with age and were highest in women. The availability of benchmarks values contribute to the score' interpretation, which would ease the systematic use of tools of self-assessed health in clinical practice.
Serrano-Gallardo
Pilar
P
Escuela de Enfermería Puerta de Hierro, Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España. pserrano.hpth@salud.madrid.org
Lizán-Tudela
Luis
L
Díaz-Olalla
José Manuel
JM
Otero
Angel
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult