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Assessing quality of life in older people: psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF

von Steinbüchel, Nicole ; Lischetzke, Tanja ; Gurny, Madeleine ; Eid, Michael

In: European Journal of Ageing, 2006, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 116-122

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    Titre
    • Assessing quality of life in older people: psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF
    Auteur
    • von Steinbüchel, Nicole. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Clinic, University of Gottingen, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
    • Lischetzke, Tanja. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Gurny, Madeleine. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Eid, Michael. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:321601
    Summary
    The World Health Organization has developed a brief generic questionnaire to assess quality of life, the WHOQOL-BREF. It has been studied in diverse groups, but not specifically in older people. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the French version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire in healthy older people and to compare the mean profiles of participants with the mean profile obtained in the international validation study of the WHOQOL-BREF. Of the total sample of 262 Swiss French speaking older participants, 122 completed a retest after 2weeks. The WHOQOL-BREF items demonstrated high test-retest reliability and validity. The WHOQOL-BREF items were differentially related to physical and mental health measures (SF-12 components, morbidity, and depression), thereby demonstrating convergent and discriminant validity. Compared to the international validation sample of the WHOQOL-BREF, participants of the present study reported higher QOL on 22 of the 26 items. A comparison of item profiles between male and female participants revealed gender differences for two items only (social support and negative feelings). We conclude that the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF items in older adults are good. To consider the 24 specific facets that are assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF appropriately, we recommend using item profiles on the individual and the sample level