Measuring the quality of life of people with dementia in nursing homes in Germany - the study protocol for the Qol-Dem Project.
BACKGROUND
QUALIDEM is a standardized dementia-specific quality of life (Qol) measurement, which was developed and validated in the Netherlands. A German version has been available since 2008. This study protocol describes the design and methodology for the quality of life of people with dementia (Qol-Dem) project.


OBJECTIVE
This project aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the German version of the QUALIDEM.


METHODS
Due to the lack of both a universal definition of Qol and of standards to verify the validity of Qol measurements, this study is divided into three phases. The aim of the first theoretical phase is the development of a dementia-specific Qol model as a result of a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. The second empirical phase consists of the three following steps: (a) an investigation of the scalability and internal consistency of the measure, (b) an evaluation of the interrater and intrarater reliability, and (c) an extensive evaluation of the validity of the QUALIDEM. The resulting Qol model (phase 1) will be used for the selection of appropriate comparators for validity testing. In the third phase, the QUALIDEM will be adapted, if necessary, based on the knowledge generated in the first two phases.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the Qol-Dem project should deliver an accurate assessment of the psychometric properties of the German version of the QUALIDEM. The results will contribute to the further development of the instrument. Furthermore, the results will contribute to the theoretical development of the concept of Qol among people with dementia.
Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Standort Witten, Germany ; Department für Pflegewissenschaft, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Martin Nikolaus
MN
Dichter
Margareta
M
Halek
Olga
O
Dortmann
Gabriele
G
Meyer
Sabine
S
Bartholomeyczik
QUALIDEM; dementia, nursing homes; meta-synthesis; proxy-assessment; psychometrics; quality of life