Measuring quality of life of cognitively impaired elderly inpatients in palliative care: psychometric properties of the QUALID and CILQ scales.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Czech versions of the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) and the Cognitively Impaired Life Quality (CILQ) scales for use in the palliative care setting in terminally ill patients with cognitive impairment.
Methods: The sample comprised 306 cognitively impaired inpatients with advanced cancer and non-cancer conditions. In this cross-sectional study, two Quality of Life (QoL) measurements were performed at baseline and after five days. The dimensionality of the QUALID and CILQ scales was evaluated using a principal component analysis with Varimax rotation. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha; inter-rater reliability was evaluated with Kappa index. Test-retest stability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) comparing scores from baseline and 3-5 days post-baseline. The construct validity of the QUALID and CILQ scale was established by Spearman's correlation coefficients with the Symptom Management at the End-of-Life in Dementia (SM-EOLD).
Results: Both scales were shown to have adequate validity and reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.812 for QUALID, and α = 0.73 for CILQ), good inter-rater agreement (QUALID: κ = 0.760; CILQ: κ = 0.801) as well as test-retest reliability (QUALID: ICC = 0.847; CILQ: ICC = 0.925).
Conclusion: The Czech versions of the QUALID and CILQ scales may be recommended for use in the Czech Republic in the area of palliative care.