15-Dimensional Health-Related Quality of Life – 15D
A standardized, self-administered measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across 15 distinct dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The 15-Dimensional Health-Related Quality of Life – 15D was developed by Harri Sintonen (1989). It is designed to measure Health-Related Quality of Life. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 15 items organized into 15 factors/subscales: Mobility, Vision, Hearing, Breathing, Sleeping, Eating, Speech, Elimination, Usual Activities, Mental Function, Discomfort and Symptoms, Depression, Distress, Vitality, Sexual Activity.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | 1 | 1 |
| Vision | 2 | 1 |
| Hearing | 3 | 1 |
| Breathing | 4 | 1 |
| Sleeping | 5 | 1 |
| Eating | 6 | 1 |
| Speech | 7 | 1 |
| Elimination | 8 | 1 |
| Usual Activities | 9 | 1 |
| Mental Function | 10 | 1 |
| Discomfort and Symptoms | 11 | 1 |
| Depression | 12 | 1 |
| Distress | 13 | 1 |
| Vitality | 14 | 1 |
| Sexual Activity | 15 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Level 1 (No problems/Normal function), 2 = Level 2 (Slight problems/Minor difficulty), 3 = Level 3 (Moderate problems/Considerable difficulty), 4 = Level 4 (Severe problems/Great difficulty), 5 = Level 5 (Extreme problems/Unable to function).
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 15 to 75. Interpretation guidelines:
- Excellent/Good Health Status: 15 – 30
- Mildly Impaired Health Status: 31 – 45
- Moderately Impaired Health Status: 46 – 60
- Severely Impaired Health Status: 61 – 75
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.80.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.