Measurement Tools/Research Instruments

A doctoral candidate in the School of Nursing is looking for an instrument to use in her research that will measure quality of life (QoL) in Chinese-American patients in Seattle with angina.

Where can you find an instrument to measure QoL in angina patients? 

• What population do you wish to assess?
• Do you have any test selection criteria, for example specific diseases or conditions?
• How hard is it to get a copy? Are there costs?

• Does it measure what you want it to measure?
• How are you planning to use it?
• Is it appropriate for your subjects?
• Is it available? Is there a cost? Is it copyrighted?
• How often has it been used or cited?
• Has it been reviewed?
• Have you seen a sample?
• Other characteristics:
• purpose,
• age or grade level,
• format,
• length of time,
• language,
• statistical validity & reliability,
• administration,
• scoring services, etc.

• A Quality of life measure refers to "health-related quality of life based on those aspects of a person's overall well-being that are affected by health status or health care." (Gold MR. Cost-effectiveness in health and medicine. New York:Oxford University Press,1996)
• Search traditional databases for tests on Quality of Life as a variable as in the Find Test by Variable scenario.
• Use your test criteria in Step 1 to make your selection.

RAND Health Surveys and Tools

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Practical surveys and tools for improving quality of care.