title: Resident health-related quality of life in Swiss nursing homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) levels and their determinants in those living in nursing homes are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate different HRQOL domains as a function of the degree of cognitive impairment and to explore associations between them and possible determinants of HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five HRQOL domains using the Minimum Data Set - Health Status Index (MDS-HSI) were investigated in a large sample of nursing home residents depending on cognitive performance levels derived from the Cognitive Performance Scale. Large effect size associations between clinical variables and the different HRQOL domains were looked for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRQOL domains are impaired to variable degrees but with similar profiles depending on the cognitive performance level. Basic activities of daily living are a major factor associated with some but not all HRQOL domains and vary little with the degree of cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is limited by the general difficulties related to measuring HRQOL in patients with cognitive impairment and the reduced number of variables considered among those potentially influencing HRQOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQOL dimensions are not all linearly associated with increasing cognitive impairment in NH patients. Longitudinal studies are required to determine how the different HRQOL domains evolve over time in NH residents.
authors: University Service of Old-Age Psychiatry, Psychiatry Department, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences, Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address: leila.chouiter@unifr.ch.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Chouiter
authors: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors: W P
authors: WP
authors: Wodchis
authors: Research Department, Healthy and Pedagogy Development, University Service of Psychiatry, Berne, Switzerland.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Abderhalden
authors: University Service of Old-Age Psychiatry, Psychiatry Department, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: von Gunten
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013557:Switzerland
keywords: Geriatric psychiatry and aging; Quality of care; Quality of life