title: Correlates of a Single-Item Quality-of-Life Measure in People Aging with Disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Practical quality-of-life (QOL) screening methods are needed to help focus clinical decision-making on what matters to individuals with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary analysis of a database from a large study of adults aging with impairments focused on four diagnostic groups: cerebral palsy (n = 134), polio (n = 321), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 99), and stroke (n = 82). Approximately 20% of cases were repeated measures of the same individuals 3-5 yrs later. Functional levels, depression, and social interactions were assessed. The single-item, subjective, seven-point Kemp Quality of Life Scale measured QOL. For each diagnostic group, Kemp Quality of Life Scale responses were divided into low, average, and high QOL subgroups. Analysis of variance and Tukey honestly significant difference tests compared clinical characteristics among these subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Duration of disability varied among the four groups. Within each group, QOL subgroups were similar in age, sex, and duration of disability. Low mean QOL was associated with lower functional level, higher depression scores, and lower social interaction (P < 0.001) in all four groups. In contrast, high mean QOL was associated with higher social interaction (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Kemp Quality of Life Scale relates significantly to clinically relevant variables in adults with impairments. The scale's utility in direct clinical care merits further examination.
authors.affiliation: From the Siebens Patient Care Communications, Seal Beach, California (HCS); California State University, Fullerton, California (DT); Los Amigos Research Institute, Downey, California (RHA, JK); and University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California (BK).
authors.forename: Hilary C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Siebens
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsukerman
authors.forename: Rodney H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kahan
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors