TY - JOUR
T1 - Using the WHOQOL-DIS to measure quality of life in persons with physical disabilities caused by neurodegenerative disorders
AU - Lucas-Carrasco, Ramona
AU - Pascual-Sedano, Berta
AU - Galán, Ingrid
AU - Kulisevsky, Jaime
AU - Sastre-Garriga, Jaume
AU - Gómez-Benito, Juana
PY - 2011/5/1
Y1 - 2011/5/1
N2 - Background/Aims: Neurodegenerative disorders (ND) have a major impact on quality of life (QoL) and place a substantial burden on patients, their families and carers; they are the second leading cause of disability. The objective of this study was to examine QoL in persons with ND. Methods: A battery of subjective assessments was used, including the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Disability (WHOQOL-DIS). Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS were investigated using classical psychometric methods. Results: Participants (n = 149) were recruited and interviewed at two specialized centers to obtain information on health and disability perceptions, depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression, HADS-D), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), Satisfaction with Life (SWL), generic QoL (WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-DIS), specific QoL (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, MSIS-29; Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39) and sociodemographics. Internal consistency was acceptable, except for the WHOQOL-BREF social (0.67). Associations, using Pearson's and Spearman's rho correlations, were confirmed between WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS with MSIS-29, PDQ-39, HADS-D, FAS and SWL. Regarding 'known group' differences, Student's t tests showed that WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS scores significantly discriminated between depressed and nondepressed and those perceiving a more severe impact of the disability on their lives. Conclusion: This study is the first to report on use of the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS in Spanish persons with ND; they are promising useful tools in assessing persons with ND through the continuum of care, as they include important dimensions commonly omitted from other QoL measures. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
AB - Background/Aims: Neurodegenerative disorders (ND) have a major impact on quality of life (QoL) and place a substantial burden on patients, their families and carers; they are the second leading cause of disability. The objective of this study was to examine QoL in persons with ND. Methods: A battery of subjective assessments was used, including the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Disability (WHOQOL-DIS). Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS were investigated using classical psychometric methods. Results: Participants (n = 149) were recruited and interviewed at two specialized centers to obtain information on health and disability perceptions, depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression, HADS-D), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), Satisfaction with Life (SWL), generic QoL (WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-DIS), specific QoL (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, MSIS-29; Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39) and sociodemographics. Internal consistency was acceptable, except for the WHOQOL-BREF social (0.67). Associations, using Pearson's and Spearman's rho correlations, were confirmed between WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS with MSIS-29, PDQ-39, HADS-D, FAS and SWL. Regarding 'known group' differences, Student's t tests showed that WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS scores significantly discriminated between depressed and nondepressed and those perceiving a more severe impact of the disability on their lives. Conclusion: This study is the first to report on use of the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS in Spanish persons with ND; they are promising useful tools in assessing persons with ND through the continuum of care, as they include important dimensions commonly omitted from other QoL measures. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
KW - Neurodegenerative disorders
KW - Quality of life
KW - Reliability
KW - Self-assessment
KW - Validity evidence
KW - World Health Organization Quality of Life - Disability (WHOQOL-DIS)
KW - World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)
U2 - 10.1159/000321582
DO - 10.1159/000321582
M3 - Article
SN - 1660-2854
VL - 8
SP - 178
EP - 186
JO - Neurodegenerative Diseases
JF - Neurodegenerative Diseases
IS - 4
ER -