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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Short report

Utility of WHOQOL-BREF in measuring quality of life in Sickle Cell Disease

Authors: Monika R Asnani, Garth E Lipps, Marvin E Reid

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Sickle cell disease is the commonest genetic disorder in Jamaica and most likely exerts numerous effects on quality of life (QOL) of those afflicted with it. The WHOQOL-Bref, which is a commonly utilized generic measure of quality of life, has never previously been utilized in this population. We have sought to study its utility in this disease population.

Methods

491 patients with sickle cell disease were administered the questionnaire including demographics, WHOQOL-Bref, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Flanagan's quality of life scale (QOLS) and measures of disease severity at their routine health maintenance visits to the sickle cell unit. Internal consistency reliabilities, construct validity and "known groups" validity of the WHOQOL-Bref, and its domains, were examined; and then compared to those of the other instruments.

Results

All three instruments had good internal consistency, ranging from 0.70 to 0.93 for the WHOQOL-Bref (except the 'social relationships' domain), 0.86–0.93 for the SF-36 and 0.88 for the QOLS. None of the instruments showed any marked floor or ceiling effects except the SF-36 'physical health' and 'role limitations' domains. The WHOQOL-Bref scale also had moderate concurrent validity and showed strong "known groups" validity.

Conclusion

This study has shown good psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-Bref instrument in determining QOL of those with sickle cell disease. Its utility in this regard is comparable to that of the SF-36 and QOLS.
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Metadata
Title
Utility of WHOQOL-BREF in measuring quality of life in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors
Monika R Asnani
Garth E Lipps
Marvin E Reid
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-7-75

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