Design, measures and sample characteristics of the CadeViMa-Spain survey on quality of life in community-dwelling older adults

• Published in: International psychogeriatrics 2012-03, Vol.24 (3), p.425-438
• Main Authors: Fernandez-Mayoralas, Gloria, Giraldez-Garcia, Carolina, Forjaz, Maria João, Rojo-Perez, Fermina, Martinez-Martin, Pablo, Prieto-Flores, Maria-Eugenia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Geriatrics; Health Status Indicators; Health Surveys - methods; Health Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Independent Living - classification; Independent Living - psychology; Independent Living - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Older people; Polls & surveys; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Self-Assessment; Spain; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1041-6102; 1741-203X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610211002018

Background: The survey “Quality of life in older adults-Spain” (CadeViMa-Spain) was designed to obtain information about objective and subjective determinants of Quality of Life (QoL) in old age, from a multidimensional perspective. This paper presents the overall description, methodology, sample characteristics and reliability of the measures used. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a representative sample of 1106 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and over in Spain. The sample was obtained by a geodemographically-based proportional multistage stratified sampling. A home-based questionnaire included validated scales and questions about sociodemographic characteristics, global QoL, health, family and social networks, financial means and retirement, leisure and social participation, residential environment, and satisfaction with those issues. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. Cronbach's α coefficients were used to assess internal consistency of the scales. Results: This nationally representative survey furnishes information about global QoL, health-related QoL, resources availability, living conditions, and satisfaction with the assessed aspects, including life domains most valued by this group. In general, community-dwelling older adults reported positive assessments of health, living conditions, and high levels of satisfaction with the different aspects of QoL. The reliability of the measures in this population was good. Conclusions: This survey provides comprehensive and useful information, based on the view of older people themselves, with potential to contribute to health and social policies towards promoting active aging. The database is available for in-depth comparisons.