Instrumento de avaliação da qualidade de vida (IAQdV) – Estudo de validação para a população idosa portuguesa

The construct of Quality of Life assumed increased relevance with the awareness that “to cure” an illness is not the only result of health interventions. It becomes important to possess an instrument for the assessment of Quality of life, appropriate, at a psychometrical level, to evaluate the impact of programs of intervention in the area of health. The validation for the Portuguese aged population of an Australian assessment of quality of life Instrument (AQol) was carried through. The characteristics of the Australian version had been respected (factors and number of items). The variance explained by the different factors presents differences relatively to the original version, signalling the following order of factors for the Portuguese aged population: Independent Life > psychological well being > physical Senses > Illness > social relationships. We finally present the variables that might interfere with perceived quality of life within this group of older people.