What is MQE?

The Measure of the Quality of Environment (MQE) is used to assess the perceived influence of environmental factors on carrying out daily activities and fulfilling social roles of individuals while taking into account their abilities or personal limitations.

Such a profile makes it possible to identify perceived facilitators and obstacles within the accomplishment of a daily activity or a social role considered to be important or carried out in an unsatisfactory way, or for life habits in general.

Anyone, regardless of age, cultural context, impairments or disabilities, can respond to the MQE Despite a large variety of living environments in which people with or without disabilities develop and grow, the same social and physical factors may be at play.

In recent years, the MQE has been the subject of numerous translations. Although these versions are not available to the public, they can be obtained to validate translations carried out within the framework of research projects or to use them in certain institutions.

Factors in the MQE

The Measure of the Quality of the Environment (MQE) includes four categories of environmental factors:  the political economic factors and sociocultural factors which comprise SOCIAL FACTORS, and “nature” and “development” which comprise PHYSICAL FACTORS.

SOCIAL FACTORS

Political Economic Factors
• Political system and governmental structures
• Juridical system
• Economic system
• Socio-health system
• Education system
• Public infrastructures
• Community organisations

Sociocultural Factors
• Social Network
• Social rules

 

PHYSICAL FACTORS

Nature
• Physical geography
• Climate
• Time
• Sound
• Electricity and magnetism
• Lighting

Development
• Achitecture
• National and regional development
• Technology

The facilitators and obstacles encountered take into account motor, sensory, language, psychological, cognitive and behavioural aspects. They also take into account the person’s age. It is expected that certain environmental factors may not apply to children from 0 to 4 years of age, whereas children 5 to 13 will develop in environments different from those of adolescents, adults or seniors.

Administrate the questionnaire

The MQE can be administered in a variety of ways, depending on the capabilities of the respondent, the information needs and the context. However, situations exist where the instructions and statements complexity limit or prevent people from answering this assessment tool. Respondents’ identification criteria were developed to identify who is best placed to collect the data regarding the perception of the concerned person.  This choice is important since it guarantees the validity of the received information from the respondent. If necessary, people can be partially or fully supported by a respondent or caregiver in order to complete the MQE.

Four modes of administration of the MQE are proposed:

  1. In an autonomous way by the person;
  2. In an autonomous way by a relative (mainly for babies or children)
  3. By the person and the support of a relative, of a significant other or a service provider;
  4. By a service provider.

The mode of administration “in an autonomous way by the person” should always be privileged when possible. The mode of administration “by a service provider” should be employed only if the person does not meet the respondents’ identification criteria of methods1, 2 and 3.

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