Questionnaire-Description

The WHOQOL-BREF is the short version of the original World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-100). It consists of 26 questions designed to assess an individual’s quality of life across various domains. The WHOQOL-BREF provides a comprehensive view of quality of life, encompassing not only physical health but also psychological, social, and environmental dimensions.
The 26 questions cover four key domains:
Physical Health: Examines energy, mobility, pain, sleep, and the ability to work.
Psychological Health: Assesses emotions, thinking, learning, self-esteem, and spiritual satisfaction.
Social Relationships: Refers to interpersonal relationships, social support, and sexual life.
Environment: Covers financial aspects, safety, access to health services, living environment, and the quality of the physical environment.
Participants respond on a Likert-type scale, providing subjective evaluations of their quality of life in each domain.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data collected from the WHOQOL-BREF are analyzed to assess quality of life in each domain separately as well as overall. The main analyses include:
Reliability analysis: To calculate the internal consistency of the items in each domain using indicators like Cronbach’s alpha.
Statistical analysis: To draw conclusions about quality of life and examine correlations between the four domains and other variables, such as health or social support.
Comparative analysis: To compare levels of quality of life across different groups, such as age categories, socioeconomic statuses, or populations with various health conditions.
The data can be used in clinical and research studies to identify factors affecting quality of life and to evaluate the effectiveness of health interventions.

Purpose

The primary goal of the WHOQOL-BREF is to provide a comprehensive and concise assessment of an individual’s quality of life, considering different aspects of life. The data collected can help:
Identify areas that require improvement to enhance quality of life, whether at an individual or population level.
Monitor changes in quality of life over time, particularly in patients receiving treatment or undergoing intervention programs.
Develop public health programs and policies to improve population well-being.

Calibration

The calibration of the WHOQOL-BREF involves:
Reliability analysis: Calculating the internal consistency of the four domains of the questionnaire to ensure that the items consistently measure quality of life.
Factor analysis: To confirm the key domains covered by the tool and its structural validity.
Validation: In different populations and cultural contexts to ensure the tool’s applicability and reliability in diverse social environments.

Bibliography

The WHOQOL Group (1998). Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychological Medicine, 28(3), 551-558.
Skevington, S. M., Lotfy, M., & O’Connell, K. A. (2004). The World Health Organization’s WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: Psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A Report from the WHOQOL Group, Quality of Life Research, 13(2), 299-310.
Harper, A., & Power, M. (1998). Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Quality of Life Research, 7(9), 883-890.