Abstract
ICECAP-O is a five-item instrument measuring quality of life, normally used in economic valuation. It reflects respondents’ perspectives on their ability to: have love and friendship; think positively about the future; feel valued; have enjoyment; and have independence. Our study uses the Quality of Life Profile Seniors Version (QOLP-SV) comprising 71 items in nine dimensions (physical, psychological, and spiritual functioning; physical, social, and community environments; and practical, leisure, and growth activities) to better understand the explanatory power of QOLP-SV versus ICECAP-O dimensions in explaining overall quality of life. Data from the QOLP-SV and ICECAP-O instruments as well as an overall quality of life question were collected from older people or their proxies (n = 119; age mean = 84.9 years) living in continuing care in western Canada. Dominance analysis using separate multivariate regression modes for each instrument finds enjoyment and pleasure, friendship and love, and being valued as the most important predictors of overall quality of life when using ICECAP-O variables, and the physical environment, community access, and spiritual health as the most important predictors of overall quality of life when using QOLP-SV variables. Dominance analysis combining ICECAP-O and QOLP-SV finds that four of the five most important predictors (physical belonging, community belonging, spiritual being, and physical being) of overall quality of life are from the QOLP-SV dimensions, with enjoyment and pleasure being the most important predictor from the ICECAP-O model. The above results generally hold even when a proxy for respondents’ health status is also included.
Presenters
Helen KelleyAssociate Professor, Policy and Strategy, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Carla Carnaghan
Associate Professor, Dhillon School of Business, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Quality of Life, ICECAP-O, QOLP-SV, Older People, Continuing Care, Canada
