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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

louis d. Burgio, PhD, Center for Mental Health and Aging, university of alabama, box 870315, tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 205 3941647, lburgio@sw.ua.edu

This abstract is based on baseline data from an NIH funded clinical trial using cognitive behavior therapy and problem solving to improve the quality of life of medically frail elderly individuals living in rural Alabama. The main outcome measure of the study is the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI, Frisch, 2003). The QOLI has not previously been used with this population. We examined data from 79 individuals (mean age =77.4 years; SD= 7.6) on the 16 domains of the QOLI which measures both importance and satisfaction with these domains. Data were examined in relation to sex and race (black/white) of clients. Overall the differences in the importance (p<.001) and satisfaction (p<.001) ratings across the 16 domains were statistically significant. The most important domain for the rural elderly was CHILDREN, whereas the least important was CREATIVITY. CHILDREN was also the most satisfactory domain whereas WORK was the least satisfactory. There were no race or gender differences in importance ratings, except for WORK, which men rated s more important. Although there were no sex differences, race differences did emerge in satisfaction ratings (p<.001). The largest differences were for HEALTH, PLAY, and HOME which blacks viewed as significantly more satisfactory than whites and MONEY which was viewed as significantly more satisfactory by whites than blacks. The importance and satisfaction ratings for some of the domains were related to other variables as well (perceived health, SES, illness severity). However, no clear trends were observed in these relations.

Learning Objectives:

• The first objective is to learn about quality of life (QOL)ratings of African American and white elders living in rural areas.The second objective is to learn whether gender differences in QOL exist

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered