WHOQOL-100
Objective[edit | edit source]
To measure the quality of life of individuals and populations.
The WHOQOL-100 was developed alongside its shorter counterpart, the WHOQOL-BREF, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and published in 1995. It was developed over several years and from 15 centres around the world[1][2]. The questions stem from multiple statements about quality of life, health and well-being from people with and without disease, and health professionals[1]. It has been tested for reliability and vailidity[1].
Intended Population[edit | edit source]
Specific populations or groups with a particular disease, or general populations.
Method of Use[edit | edit source]
The WHOQOL-100 is patient-reported questionnaire. It comprises 100 questions on the individual's perceptions of their health and well-being over the previous two weeks. Responses to questions are on a 1-5 Likert scale where 1 represents "disagree" or "not at all" and 5 represents "completely agree" or "extremely".
The questions cover six domains of quality of life plus general QOL and health[1]:
- Overall Quality of Life and General Health
- Physical Health
- Energy and fatigue
- Pain and discomfort
- Sleep and rest
3. Psychological
- Bodily image and appearance
- Negative feelings
- Positive feelings
- Self-esteem
- Thinking, learning, memory and concentration
4. Level of Independence
- Mobility
- Activities of daily living
- Dependence on medicinal substances and medical aids
- Work capacity
5. Social Relations
- Personal relationships
- Social support
- Sexual activity
6. Environment
- Financial resources
- Freedom, physical safety and security
- Health and social care: accessibility and quality
- Home environment
- Opportunities for acquiring new information and skills
- Participation in and opportunities for recreation/leisure
- Physical environment (pollution/noise/traffic/climate)
- Transport
7. Spirituality/Religion/Personal beliefs
- Religion/Spirituality/Personal beliefs (single facet)
Reference[edit | edit source]
Evidence[edit | edit source]
In its extensive development, the WHOQOL group has rigorously tested the WHOQOL-100's psychometric properties[1]. Multiple studies have also tested the WHOQOL-100's psychometric properties in various disease groups. Some examples follow.
Reliability[edit | edit source]
The WHOQOL-100 demonstrated strong reliability when measuring QOL in people with depression (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96)[3], schizophrenia (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94)[4], people with breast cancer[5], and when comparing sick and well people[6].
Validity[edit | edit source]
In a study of people receiving treatment for moderate depression, the domains and facets of the WHOQOL-100 demonstrated high construct, divergent and convergent validity[3]. The WHOQOL-100 has also demonstrated validity in comparing a general population of well and sick people[6], schizophrenia[4] and chronic pain[7].
Responsiveness[edit | edit source]
The WHOQOL-100 is responsive to change in QOL following liver transplant[8] and in those with chronic pain[7].
Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]
The WHOQOL-100 is available in more than 20 languages. It shows good discriminatory power in people with depression i.e. those with worse depression record lower scores[3].
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 World Health Organisation. WHOQOL: Measuring Quality of Life. Available from https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/whoqol-qualityoflife/en/index1.html. Accessed 2 April 2020.
- ↑ Power M, Bullinger M, Harper A, & The World Health Organization Quality of Life Group. The World Health Organization WHOQOL-100: Tests of the universality of quality of life in 15 different cultural groups worldwide. Health Psychol. 1999. 18; 5: 495–505.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Skevington SM, Wright A. Changes in the quality of life of patients receiving antidepressant medication in primary care: validation of the WHOQOL-100. Br J Psychiatry. 2001;178: 261-267. Accessed 16 April 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Orsel S, Akdemir A, Dag I. The sensitivity of quality-of-life scale WHOQOL-100 to psychopathological measures in schizophrenia. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2004. 45; 1: 57-61.
- ↑ Den Oudsten BL, Van Heck GL, Van der Steeg AFW, Roukemaad JA, De Vriesa J. The WHOQOL-100 has good psychometric properties in breast cancer patients. J Clin Epidemiol. 2009. 62; 2: 195-205.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Skevington SM. Measuring quality of life in Britain: Introducing the WHOQOL-100. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 1999. 47; 5: 449-459.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Skevington SM, Carse MS, Williams AC. Validation of the WHOQOL-100: pain management improves quality of life for chronic pain patients. Clin J Pain. 2001. 17; 3: 264-75.
- ↑ O'Carroll R, Smith K, Couston M, Cossar JA, Hayes PC. A comparison of the WHOQOL-100 and the WHOQOL-BREF in detecting change in quality of life following liver transplantation. 2000. Qual Life Res; 9: 121–124.