Quality-of-life assessments

Page posted: 3/6/24

When a person is taking psychotropic medications, it can be helpful to track improvements or declines in their overall quality of life. There are hundreds of areas of a person’s life that play into how they view their overall well-being. One person might consider an area important, while another person might consider that area irrelevant or might define it in a different way. Still, the important areas of life generally can be categorized into broader domains. For example, quality-of-life domains could include:

· Emotional well-being.

· Interpersonal relationships.

· Material well-being.

· Personal development.

· Physical well-being.

· Self-determination.

· Social inclusion.

· Rights.

Source: Enhancing the Quality of Life of People with Intellectual Disabilities – Quality of Life Model Development and Use in the Field of Intellectual Disability.

DHS recommends support teams use multiple methods of assessment and data collection in their efforts to measure well-being.

Common qualitative collection methods are:

· Interviews with the person.

· Interviews with people who know the person well.

Common quantitative collection methods are:

· Direct observation of behaviors.

· Rating scales or satisfaction surveys.

Tools and guides

The materials in this section can help assess domains of a person’s quality of life. The interdisciplinary team should meet quarterly to review quality of life and ensure the medication(s) contribute to the person’s optimal lifestyle.

There are many acceptable ways to assess a person’s quality of life, including, but not limited to:

· My Best Life: A Tool to Tell Others How You Feel (Word document) (also available in multiple languages): Support team members can use this tool to start a conversation with the person about their quality of life.

· Quality-of-Life Tool for Caregivers (Word document) (also available in multiple languages): This tool was designed for support team members to use when the person cannot always tell caregivers what they want or need.

· Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – Select Health Care Quality Measures: This is a guide for support team members to develop their own tool.

· Positive Supports Minnesota – Person-Centered Practices and Promoting Quality-of-Life: This webpage provides information on person-centered practices as they relate to quality of life.

Assessing quality of life for people who do not use words to communicate

When a person does not use words to communicate their ideas, it might be necessary for others to share their observations or interpretations of the person’s behavior. It is crucial that people in these roles answer from the perspective of the person. It is also helpful to talk with multiple people to get a variety of input.

Optional quality-of-life questionnaire for psychotropic medications

The following questions might be helpful in assessing the person’s quality of life as it relates to psychotropic medications:

· How does this medication make you feel?

· Do you think this medication is making your life better? Why or why not?

· Do you think this medication is improving your relationships with other people (at home, work, school, family, friends, etc.)? Why or why not?

· Is there anything that could be changed about your home or work to improve your health or to reduce symptoms?

· Do you feel that your team respects and honors your decisions and choices related to the medication?

· Do you feel comfortable telling people how you feel? Do you feel that they will listen to you?

· Have you missed any doses, or have you accidentally taken medication at the wrong time? If yes, is there anything the team can do to help you with that?

· Is there anything else you would like to share with the team?

Additional resources

Psychotropic Medication Manual
Psychotropic Medication Manual – Support plan development