scholarly journals Psychometric Properties of the QoL-ME: A Visual and Personalized Quality of Life Assessment App for People With Severe Mental Health Problems

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Buitenweg ◽  
Dike van de Mheen ◽  
Hans A. M. van Oers ◽  
Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

Background: Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in people with severe mental health problems may benefit from improved personalization and accessibility. Therefore, an innovative, digital, visual, and personalized QoL assessment app for people with severe mental health problems was recently developed: the QoL-ME. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric quality of the QoL-ME by assessing its reliability, validity, and responsiveness.Methods: To examine the reliability of the QoL-ME, the internal consistency of its subscales was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha. Correlations between the QoL-ME and the MANSA were computed to appraise the construct validity of the QoL-ME. Internal responsiveness was evaluated using the standardized response mean and external responsiveness was investigated using hierarchical regression.Results: Cronbach's Alpha's of the subscales of the QoL-ME ranged between 0.5 and 0.84. In accordance with expectations, the language-based core version of the QoL-ME correlated strongly (r = between 0.55 and 0.76) with the MANSA, whilst the picture-based additional modules of the QoL-ME correlated moderately (r = 0.3) with the MANSA. The standardized response mean was 0.23 and the regression model revealed a coefficient β of −0.01.Conclusions: The QoL-ME has adequate psychometric properties. In comparison with similar pictorial instruments, both the QoL-ME's reliability and validity can be considered as sufficient. The results indicate that the responsiveness of the QoL-ME is insufficient. Additional research is needed to evaluate and potentially modify the instrument to improve its responsiveness.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Buitenweg ◽  
Dike van de Mheen ◽  
Jean-Paul Grund ◽  
Hans van Oers ◽  
Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

BACKGROUND QoL-ME is a digital visual personalized quality of life assessment app for people with severe mental health problems. Research reveals that e-mental health apps frequently suffer from low engagement and fall short of expectations regarding their impact on patients’ daily lives. Studies often indicate that e-mental health apps ought to respect the needs and preferences of end users to achieve optimal user engagement. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of users regarding the usability and functionality of QoL-ME and whether the app is actionable and beneficial for patients. METHODS End users (n=8) of QoL-ME contributed to semistructured interviews. An interview guide was used to direct the interviews. All interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions were analyzed and coded thematically. RESULTS Analysis revealed 3 main themes: (1) benefit, (2) actionability, and (3) characteristics of the QoL-ME. The first theme reveals that the QoL-ME app was beneficial for the majority of respondents, primarily by prompting them to reflect on their quality of life. The current version is not yet actionable; the actionability of the QoL-ME app may be improved by enabling users to view their scores over time and by supplying practical advice for quality of life improvements. Overall, participants had positive experiences with the usability, design, and content of the app. CONCLUSIONS The QoL-ME app can be beneficial to users as it provides them with insight into their quality of life and elicits reflection. Incorporating more functionalities that facilitate self-management, such as advice and strategies for improving areas that are lacking, will likely make the app actionable. Patients positively regarded the usability, design, and contents of the QoL-ME app.


10.2196/19593 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e19593
Author(s):  
David Buitenweg ◽  
Dike van de Mheen ◽  
Jean-Paul Grund ◽  
Hans van Oers ◽  
Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

Background QoL-ME is a digital visual personalized quality of life assessment app for people with severe mental health problems. Research reveals that e-mental health apps frequently suffer from low engagement and fall short of expectations regarding their impact on patients’ daily lives. Studies often indicate that e-mental health apps ought to respect the needs and preferences of end users to achieve optimal user engagement. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of users regarding the usability and functionality of QoL-ME and whether the app is actionable and beneficial for patients. Methods End users (n=8) of QoL-ME contributed to semistructured interviews. An interview guide was used to direct the interviews. All interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions were analyzed and coded thematically. Results Analysis revealed 3 main themes: (1) benefit, (2) actionability, and (3) characteristics of the QoL-ME. The first theme reveals that the QoL-ME app was beneficial for the majority of respondents, primarily by prompting them to reflect on their quality of life. The current version is not yet actionable; the actionability of the QoL-ME app may be improved by enabling users to view their scores over time and by supplying practical advice for quality of life improvements. Overall, participants had positive experiences with the usability, design, and content of the app. Conclusions The QoL-ME app can be beneficial to users as it provides them with insight into their quality of life and elicits reflection. Incorporating more functionalities that facilitate self-management, such as advice and strategies for improving areas that are lacking, will likely make the app actionable. Patients positively regarded the usability, design, and contents of the QoL-ME app.


10.2196/12378 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e12378 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Buitenweg ◽  
Ilja L Bongers ◽  
Dike van de Mheen ◽  
Hans AM van Oers ◽  
Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

Background Quality of life (QoL) is a prominent outcome measure in mental health. However, conventional methods for QoL assessment rely heavily on language‐based communication and therefore may not be optimal for all individuals with severe mental health problems. In addition, QoL assessment is usually based on a fixed number of life domains. This approach conflicts with the notion that QoL is influenced by individual values and preferences. A digital assessment app facilitates both the accessibility and personalization of QoL assessment and may, therefore, help to further advance QoL assessment among individuals with severe mental health problems. Objective This study focused on the development of an innovative, visual, and personalized QoL assessment app for people with severe mental health problems: the QoL-ME. Methods This study targeted 3 groups of individuals with severe mental health problems: (1) people with psychiatric problems, (2) people treated in forensic psychiatry, and (3) people who are homeless. A group of 59 participants contributed to the 6 iterations of the cocreative development of the QoL-ME. In the brainstorming stage, consisting of the first iteration, participants’ previous experiences with questionnaires and mobile apps were explored. Participants gave their feedback on initial designs and wireframes in the second to fourth iterations that made up the design stage. In the usability stage that comprised the final 2 iterations, the usability of the QoL-ME was evaluated. Results In the brainstorming stage, participants stressed the importance of privacy and data security and of receiving feedback when answering questionnaires. Participants in the design stage indicated a preference for paging over scrolling, linear navigation, a clean and minimalist layout, the use of touchscreen functionality in various modes of interaction, and the use of visual analog scales. The usability evaluation in the usability stage revealed good to excellent usability. Conclusions The cocreative development of the QoL-ME resulted in an app that corresponds to the preferences of participants and has strong usability. Further research is needed to evaluate the psychometric quality of the QoL-ME and to investigate its usefulness in practice.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Buitenweg ◽  
Ilja L Bongers ◽  
Dike van de Mheen ◽  
Hans A M van Oers ◽  
Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

BACKGROUND Quality of life (QoL) is a prominent outcome measure in mental health. However, conventional methods for QoL assessment rely heavily on language‐based communication and therefore may not be optimal for all individuals with severe mental health problems. In addition, QoL assessment is usually based on a fixed number of life domains. This approach conflicts with the notion that QoL is influenced by individual values and preferences. A digital assessment app facilitates both the accessibility and personalization of QoL assessment and may, therefore, help to further advance QoL assessment among individuals with severe mental health problems. OBJECTIVE This study focused on the development of an innovative, visual, and personalized QoL assessment app for people with severe mental health problems: the QoL-ME. METHODS This study targeted 3 groups of individuals with severe mental health problems: (1) people with psychiatric problems, (2) people treated in forensic psychiatry, and (3) people who are homeless. A group of 59 participants contributed to the 6 iterations of the cocreative development of the QoL-ME. In the brainstorming stage, consisting of the first iteration, participants’ previous experiences with questionnaires and mobile apps were explored. Participants gave their feedback on initial designs and wireframes in the second to fourth iterations that made up the design stage. In the usability stage that comprised the final 2 iterations, the usability of the QoL-ME was evaluated. RESULTS In the brainstorming stage, participants stressed the importance of privacy and data security and of receiving feedback when answering questionnaires. Participants in the design stage indicated a preference for paging over scrolling, linear navigation, a clean and minimalist layout, the use of touchscreen functionality in various modes of interaction, and the use of visual analog scales. The usability evaluation in the usability stage revealed good to excellent usability. CONCLUSIONS The cocreative development of the QoL-ME resulted in an app that corresponds to the preferences of participants and has strong usability. Further research is needed to evaluate the psychometric quality of the QoL-ME and to investigate its usefulness in practice.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Morisse ◽  
Eleonore Vandemaele ◽  
Claudia Claes ◽  
Lien Claes ◽  
Stijn Vandevelde

The field of intellectual disability (ID) is strongly influenced by the Quality of Life paradigm (QOL). We aimed at investigating whether or not the QOL paradigm also applies to clients with ID and cooccurring mental health problems. This paper aims at stimulating a debate on this topic, by investigating whether or not QOL domains are universal. Focus groups with natural and professional network members were organized to gather qualitative data, in order to answer two questions: (1) Are the QOL dimensions conceptualized in the model of Schalock et al. applicable for persons with ID and mental health problems? (2) What are indicators relating to the above-mentioned dimensions in relation to persons with ID and mental health problems? The results offer some proof for the assumption that the QOL construct seems to have universal properties. With regard to the second question, the study revealed that the natural and professional network members are challenged to look for the most appropriate support strategies, taking specific indicators of QOL into account. When aspects of empowerment and regulation are used in an integrated manner, the application of the QOL paradigm could lead to positive outcomes concerning self-determination, interdependence, social inclusion, and emotional development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 207 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Rüsch ◽  
Alexandra Malzer ◽  
Nathalie Oexle ◽  
Tamara Waldmann ◽  
Tobias Staiger ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
S. M. J. Leijdesdorff ◽  
C. E. M. Huijs ◽  
R. M. C. Klaassen ◽  
A. Popma ◽  
T. A. M. J. van Amelsvoort ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matej Stuhec ◽  
Nika Bratović ◽  
Aleš Mrhar

AbstractMental health problems (MHPs) are very common in the elderly and can have an important influence on their quality of life (QoL). There is almost no data on the impact of clinical pharmacists’ (CPs) interventions on the QoL including elderly patients and MHPs. The main aim of this study was to determinate the impact of (CP’s) interventions on the QoL and quality of pharmacotherapy. A prospective non-randomized pre-post study was designed which included residents of a nursing home aged 65 age or more with at least one MHP. Each patient also filled out the EQ-5D questionnaire. The medical review MR included drug-related problems (DRPs) and potentially drug-drug interactions (pDDIs), as well as potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). After 2 months, the participants were interviewed again. The mean number of medications before the intervention was 12,2 ± 3,1 per patient and decreased to 10,3 ± 3,0 medications per patient (p < 0,05) (n = 24). The total number of PIMs and pDDIs was also reduced and QoL was also significantly higher (p < 0,05). A collaborative care approach with a CP led to a decrease of DRPs, pDDIs, PIMs, the total number of medications and to an improvement in the patients’ QoL.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document