Skip to main content

Development and Psychometric Properties of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-100) in Portugal

International Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 16, pages 116–124 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

At the beginning of the 1990s, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a project in order to create a cross-cultural instrument of quality of life assessment: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL).

Purpose

This paper describes the development of the European Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-100, according to the methodology recommended by the WHO.

Method

Special attention is given to the qualitative pilot study, which led to the development of the Portuguese Facet [Political P], and to the empirical pilot study and the psychometric studies, based on the application of the Portuguese version of the instrument to a sample of 315 subjects from the general population and 289 patients. The assessment protocol also included the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory.

Results

The Portuguese version of WHOQOL-100 showed acceptable internal consistency (α range 0.84–0.94) and test–retest reliability in all domains (r range 0.67–0.86). Discriminant validity was significant for all domains, except in Spirituality. Convergent validity with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory was satisfactory for most domains.

Conclusion

The WHOQOL showed good psychometric characteristics, suggesting that the Portuguese version of WHOQOL is valid and reliable in the assessment of quality of life in Portugal.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Wolfensberger W. Lets hang up “Quality of Life” as a hopeless term. In: Goode D, editor. Quality of life for persons with disabilities: International perspectives and issues. Cambridge: Brookline Books; 1994. p. 285–321.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Orley J. The World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life Project. In: Trimble M, Dodson W, editors. Epilepsy and quality of life. New York: Raven Press; 1994. p. 99–108.

    Google Scholar 

  3. WHOQOL Group. Development of the WHOQOL: Rationale and Current Status. Int J Ment Health 1994a;23(3):24–56.

    Google Scholar 

  4. WHOQOL Group. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL): Position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med 1995;41(10):1403–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. WHOQOL Group. The development of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (the WHOQOL). In: Orley J, Kuyken W, editors. Quality of Life Assessment: International perspectives. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1994b. p. 41–60.

    Google Scholar 

  6. WHOQOL Group. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL): Development and General Psychometric Properties. Soc Sci Med 1998;46(12):1569–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Skevington SM. Measuring Quality of Life in Britain: Introducing the WHOQOL-100. J Psychosom Res 1999;47(5):449–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Skevington SM, Sartorius N, Amir M, WHOQOL Group. Developing methods for assessing quality of life in different cultural settings. Social Psychiatry Epidemiology 2004;39:1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Skevington S, Bradshaw J, Saxena S. Selecting national items for the WHOQOL: conceptual and psychometric considerations. Soc Sci Med 1999;48:473–87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Berlim MT, Pavanello DP, Caldieraro MA, Fleck M. Reliability and validity of the WHOQOL BREF in a sample of Brazilian outpatients with major depression. Qual Life Res 2005;14:561–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fleck M. O instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida da Organização Mundial da Saúde (WHOQOL-100): Características e perspectivas. Ciência & Saúde Colectiva 2000;5(1):33–8.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fleck M, Leal O, Louzada S, Xavier M, Chachamovich E, Vieira G, et al. Desenvolvimento da versão em português do instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida da OMS (WHOQOL-100). Rev Bras Psiquiatr 1999a;21(1):19–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fleck M, Louzada S, Xavier M, Chachamovich E, Vieira G, Santos L, et al. Aplicação da versão em português do instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida da OMS (WHOQOL-100). Rev Saúde Pública 1999b;33(2):198–205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fleck M, Louzada S, Xavier M, Chachamovich E, Vieira G, Santos L, et al. Aplicação da versão em português do instrumento abreviado de avaliação de qualidade de vida “WHOQOL-bref”. Revista Saúde Pública 2000;33(2):178–83.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Canavarro MC, Vaz Serra A, Pereira M, Simões MR, Quintais L, Quartilho MJ, et al. Desenvolvimento do Instrumento de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-100) para Português de Portugal. Psiquiatr Clín 2006;27(1):15–23.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rijo D, Canavarro MC, Pereira M, Simões MR, Vaz Serra A, Quartilho MJ, et al. Especificidades da avaliação da Qualidade de Vida na população portuguesa: O processo de construção da faceta portuguesa do WHOQOL-100. Psiquiatr Clín 2006;27(1):25–30.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Vaz Serra A, Canavarro MC, Simões MR, Pereira M, Gameiro S, Quartilho MJ, et al. Estudos psicométricos do instrumento de avaliação da Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-100) para Português de Portugal. Psiquiatr Clín 2006a;27(1):31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Vaz Serra A, Canavarro MC, Simões MR, Pereira M, Gameiro S, Quartilho MJ, et al. Estudos psicométricos do instrumento de avaliação da Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-Bref) para Português de Portugal. Psiquiatr Clín 2006b;27(1):41–9.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Beck AT, Ward C, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1961;4:561–71.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vaz Serra A, Pio Abreu JL. Aferição dos quadros clínicos depressivos. I – Ensaio de aplicação do “Inventário Depressivo de Beck” a uma amostra portuguesa de doentes deprimidos. Coimbra Méd 1973a;XX:623–44.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Vaz Serra A, Pio Abreu JL. Aferição dos quadros clínicos depressivos. II – Estudo preliminar de novos agrupamentos sintomatológicos para complemento do “Inventário Depressivo de Beck”. Coimbra Méd 1973b;XX:713–36.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Canavarro MC. Inventário de Sintomas Psicopatológicos—BSI. In: Simões MR, Gonçalves M, Almeida L, editors. Testes e provas psicológicas em Portugal—Vol. 2. Braga: APPORT/SHO; 1999. p. 95–109.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Derogatis LR. BSI: Brief Symptom Inventory. Administration, Scoring and Procedures Manual. Minneapolis: National Computers Systems; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bonomi AE, Patrick DL, Bushnell DM, Martin M. Validation of the United States’ version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) instrument. J Clin Epidemiol 2000;53:1–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the WHOQOL Group, particularly Professors Shekhar Saxena, Somnath Chatterji, Mark Van Ommeren and Debashish Chattopadhyay.

A very special thanks is due to Prof. Marcelo Fleck, coordinator of the Brazilian WHOQOL Center, consultant of the WHOQOL Project of European Portuguese, for all the support given during the various phases of this process.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria Cristina Canavarro, Mário R. Simões, Daniel Rijo & Tiago Paredes

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Adriano Vaz Serra & Manuel João Quartilho

  3. (FCT—SFRH/BD/19126/2004), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Marco Pereira

  4. (FCT—SFRH/BD/21584/2005), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Sofia Gameiro

  5. Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Luís Quintais

  6. Portuguese Association of Cerebral Palsy (NRC-APPC), Coimbra, Portugal

    Carlos Carona

  7. (FCT—SFRH/BD/32380/2006), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Tiago Paredes

Authors
  1. Maria Cristina Canavarro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adriano Vaz Serra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mário R. Simões
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daniel Rijo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marco Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sofia Gameiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Manuel João Quartilho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Luís Quintais
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Carlos Carona
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Tiago Paredes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Cristina Canavarro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Canavarro, M.C., Serra, A.V., Simões, M.R. et al. Development and Psychometric Properties of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-100) in Portugal. Int.J. Behav. Med. 16, 116–124 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-008-9024-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-008-9024-2

Keywords

  • Quality of Life
  • World Health Organization
  • Assessment
  • Focus Groups
  • Psychometric studies