Validation of WHO QOL-BREF instrument in Indian adolescents

This study attempts to test the psychometric properties of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOLBREF) instrument in Indian adolescents.

Of 1900 schools in Lucknow city, 20 schools were invited for participation. To make WHOQOL-BREF instrument culturally appropriate for Indian adolescents, a minor modification was done by replacing one item in Social domain "Are you satisfied with your sex life?" with "Are you satisfied with the respect you receive from others?". The revised WHOQOL-BREF was administered to subjects in school after obtaining written parental consent.

From August 2007-January 2008, 525 adolescents were recruited (mean age 14.04+/-2.09 yr; 52.38 % males). Adolescents reported highest HRQoL in social relations and lowest in environment domain. The instrument showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's a=0.87; p-value<0.01) as well as good content, construct and predictive validity (p-values<0.05). Psychological domain had best predictive validity, whereas, social relations domain had best content validity.

The study provides evidence that revised WHOQOL-BREF is a reliable and valid instrument and can be used in Indian adolescents.