The assessment of the reliability and the validity of the EOQOL questionnaire of osteoporotics - QOL assessment of elderly osteoporotics by EOQOL

Abstract

We presented a novel and specific questionnaire for quality of life of elderly subjects with osteoporosis (EOQOL), and analyzed its reliability and validity. Based on the discussions with elderly people of osteoporosis, we extracted key words related to complaints of patients with vertebral fractures. A 49 questionnaire was developed on concepts derived from key words. The subdirectories of the questionnaire for elderly osteoporotic subjects consisted of pain, daily activity, movement, physiological activity, duty, recreation and well-being. To analyze the reliability and the validity of EOQOL, it was evaluated in 101 elderly subjects with osteoporosis. Crohnbach's α coeffient was 0.82 for pain, 0.86 for daily activity, 0.73 for movement, 0.83 for mood, 0.78 for anxiety against falls, 0.84 for physiological activity, 0.85 for duty, 0.66 for free time, 0.78 for a nice feeling about life. These results indicated that EOQOL is useful as a disease specific questionnaire for elderly osteoporotic patients with osteoporosis.