title: Quality of life data in older adults: self-assessment vs interview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are obstacles for older people when reporting quality of life (QoL) in a survey format. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of data obtained on self-assessed QoL among older people with respect to modes of administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately half of the QoL items showed significantly higher mean values in the mail sample than in the interview sample. Data suggest that there may be more vulnerability towards offering socially desirable answers. Problems with reduced energy and loss of memory affect both modes of administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that investigating the mode of questionnaire administration among older people can be a valuable means by which to detect possible threats to data quality when interpreting QoL scores.
authors: Associate Professor, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway.
authors: Liv
authors: L
authors: Halvorsrud
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Kalfoss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009663:Norwalk virus; D011177:Postal Service; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
keywords: Aged 80 and over; Data collection; Interviews; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Surveys