title: Does one size fit all? Assessing the preferences of older and younger people for attributes of quality of life.
abstract: To systematically compare, via ranking and best worst tasks, the relative importance of key dimensions of quality of life for younger and older people.
  
  
  
  A web-based survey was developed for administration to two Australia-wide community-based samples comprising younger people aged 18-64 years and older people aged 65 years and above. Respondents were asked to rank 12 quality of life dimensions. Respondents also completed a successive best worst task using the same 12 quality of life dimensions.
  
  
  
  The relative importance of the quality of life dimensions differed for younger and older person samples. For older people, the ability to be independent and to have control over their daily lives were particularly important for their overall quality of life whereas for younger people, mental health was considered most important.
  
  
  
  Many interventions accessed by older people in geriatric medicine and aged care sectors have a broader impact upon quality of life beyond health status. The findings from this study indicate that a focus on broader aspects of quality of life may also be consistent with the preferences of older people themselves as to what constitutes quality of life from their perspective.
authors.affiliation: Flinders Health Economics Group, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia. julie.ratcliffe@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lancsar
authors.affiliation: Flinders Health Economics Group, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.affiliation: Flinders Health Economics Group, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Billingsley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaambwa
authors.affiliation: Disability and Community Inclusion Unit, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luszcz
authors.affiliation: John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Kolling Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Economic evaluation; Health status; Older people; Quality of life; Younger people