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Use of the QOL-AD for measuring quality of life in people with severe dementia--the LASER-AD study
Hoe J, Katona C, Roch B, Livingston G.. Age and ageing, 2005-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) scales are particularly important in older people as global outcome measures for interventions. It is known that people with mild to moderate dementia can provide valid assessments of their own QOL, but it is unclear whether these instruments are useful in those with severe dementia. Objective We examined the usefulness of the QOL scale in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) in people with severe dementia by considering the ability of older people with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of Methods Data were collected from people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers using a range of instruments measuring cognition, mood, behaviour, QOL and functional ability.
Key findings
- It is known that people with mild to moderate dementia can provide valid assessments of their own QOL, but it is unclear whether these instruments are useful in those with severe dementia.
- Objective We examined the usefulness of the QOL scale in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) in people with severe dementia by considering the ability of older people with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of <12 and their caregivers to complete this scale, as well as its construct validity and internal consistency.
- Results Of 79 participants and their caregivers, 41 (52%) could complete the QOL-AD.
- Cognition and functional abilities were significantly higher in the completers than in the non-completers (P Conclusions There is evidence for the validity and reliability of the QOL-AD in people with MMSE scores of 3-11, as well as the practicality of administering the scale in this population.
Why it matters
This study examined whether a quality-of-life scale can be used in people with severe Alzheimer's disease by looking at their ability to report on their own quality of life. It is about measuring quality of life, not about treating, curing, or preventing the disease.
Study details
- Participants79
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Age and ageing) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Age and Ageing: journal h-index 231 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2005 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 79 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 230 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.0 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gill Livingston: h-index 99 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15713856) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hoe, J., Katona, C., Roch, B., & Livingston, G. (2005). Use of the QOL-AD for measuring quality of life in people with severe dementia--the LASER-AD study. Age and ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afi030
Vancouver
Hoe J, Katona C, Roch B, Livingston G. Use of the QOL-AD for measuring quality of life in people with severe dementia--the LASER-AD study. Age and ageing. 2005. doi:10.1093/ageing/afi030. PMID: 15713856.
BibTeX
@article{hoe2005-15713856,
author = {Hoe, J. and Katona, C. and Roch, B. and Livingston, G.},
title = {{Use of the QOL-AD for measuring quality of life in people with severe dementia--the LASER-AD study}},
journal = {Age and ageing},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afi030},
pmid = {15713856},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afi030}
}
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