Tools for surveying and improving the quality of life: people with special needs in focus
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 31 August 2012
Abstract
Purpose
This article seeks to describe online tools for surveying and improving quality of life for people with disabilities living in assisted living centers and special education service organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Ensuring a decent quality of life for disabled people is an important welfare state goal. Using well‐accepted quality of life conceptions, online diagnostic and planning tools were developed during an Institute for Education, University of Zurich, research project.
Findings
The diagnostic tools measure, evaluate and analyze disabled people's quality of life. The planning tools identify factors that can affect their quality of life and suggest improvements.
Research limitations/implications
Instrument validity and reliability are not tested according to the standard statistical procedures. This will be done at a more advanced stage of the project. Instead, the tool is developed, refined and adjusted in cooperation with practitioners who are constantly judging it according to best practice standards.
Practical implications
The tools support staff in assisted living centers and special education service organizations.
Originality/value
These tools offer comprehensive resources for surveying, quantifying, evaluating, describing and simulating quality of life elements.
Keywords
Citation
Hoyningen‐Süess, U., Oberholzer, D., Stalder, R. and Brügger, U. (2012), "Tools for surveying and improving the quality of life: people with special needs in focus", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 592-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526861211261190
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited