OBJECTIVES: To development and preliminary assessment an environment-based quality of life instrument (EBQOL), and then brings some enlightenment to estimate that how environment impacts the expanding quality of life rather than only health related quality of life (HRQOL).

METHODS: Researchers proposed the raw item independently. A focus group which composed of ten experts analyzed the all raw items. The value of Cronbach’s alpha and results of the two same surveys were checked. Another different experts group assessed the content validity. Results from different people were estimated to indicate the responsibility. Time taken to answer, and the rates of questionnaire recycled and completed were measured.

RESULTS: A total of 25 items was collected, and a brief version of the instrument was constructed. EBQOL consists of six attributes (air condition, water condition, living environment, transportation, social life and security) with three/four levels. The results from 100 respondents showed that the value of Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.712. The correlation coefficient between the same survey in two days was more than 0.9 (p<0.05). Experts agreed that EBQOL could represent the important dimensions of environment which impact on health and the diversity of QOL. Female preferred the safety dimension, and the persons with poor health condition preferred the air and water dimension. More than 95% and 70% respondents could complete the instrument in two minutes and could complete the whole questionnaire in half an hour, respectively. The all closed-ended questions and more than half of the open-ended questions were completed by the all respondents.

CONCLUSIONS: The reliability, validity, responsibility, and acceptability of EBQOL were tested in this study, and the test results were very acceptable in practice. In addition, some experts suggested that three levels should be assigned to the all attributes, and a briefer version may suitable for established to its value set.