MEASURING QUALITY OF LIFE: THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION QUALITY OF LIFE
INSTRUMENTS (THE WHOQOL-100 AND THE WHOQOL-BREF) (WHO, 1997)
The Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as
"A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being not merely the absence of disease. ."
กำลังโหลด…
WHO, with the aid of 15 collaborating centres around the world, has therefore developed two instruments for measuring quality of life (the WHOQOL-100 and the WHOQOLBREF), that can be used in a variety of cultural settings
The important aspects of quality of life and ways of asking about quality of life were drafted on the basis of statements made by patients with a range of diseases, by well people and by health professionals in a variety of cultures.
WHO defines Quality of Life as individuals’ perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.
STRENGTHS OF THE WHOQOL INSTRUMENTS: THE WHOQOL INSTRUMENTS WERE DEVELOPED CROSS-CULTURALLY
Currently being tested to assess responsiveness to change. The WHOQOL-BREF, an abbreviated 26 item version of the WHOQOL-100, was developed using data from the field-trial version of the WHOQOL-100. The WHOQOL instruments can be used in particular cultural settings, but at the same time results are comparable across cultures.
The WHOQOL is now available in over 20 different languages and its development in further languages is progressing.
The WHOQOL instruments, by focusing on individuals' own views of their well being, provide a new perspective on disease.
They not only inquire about the functioning of people with diabetes, across a range of areas but also how satisfied the patients are with their functioning and with effects of treatment.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE WHOQOL-100
Domain
Facets incorporated within domains
1. Physical health
Energy and fatigue Pain and discomfort Sleep and rest
2. Psychological
Bodily image and appearance
Negative feelings
Positive feelings
Self-esteem
Thinking, learning, memory and
concentration
3. Level of Independence
Mobility
Activities of daily living
Dependence on medicinal substances and
medical aids
Work Capacity
THE STRUCTURE OF THE WHOQOL-100 (CONT.)
Domain
Facets incorporated within domains
4. Social relationships
Personal relationships
Social support
Sexual activity
5. 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
6. Spirituality/Religion/Personal
beliefs
Religion /Spirituality/Personal beliefs
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOQOL INSTRUMENTS
Stage
Method
Products
Objectives
Concept
clarification
International
expert review.
Quality of Life
definition.
Study protocol.
Establishing an
agreed upon
definition of
quality of life
and an approach to international
quality of life
assessment.
Qualitative pilot
Expert review.
Focus groups.
Definitions of
domains and
facets.
Global item pool.
Exploration of the
quality of life
concept across
cultures.
Item generation.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOQOL INSTRUMENTS (CONT.)
Stage
Method
Products
Objectives
Development pilot
Administration of
WHOQOL Pilot Form in 15 field
centres to 250
patients and 50
"healthy"
respondents.
300 item
standardised
questionnaire.
Refine the WHOQOL structure.
Reduce the global
question pool.
Field test of the
WHOQOL-100
Series of smaller
scale studies
involving clear
and homogenous
populations,
longitudinal
design and
parallel use of
other national /
international QOL
measures.
Common 100 item
pool.
Standardised and
cross-nationally
equivalent
response scales.
To further
establish the
psychometric
properties of the
WHOQOL.