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Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire for use with medical students
C U Krägeloh1, M A Henning, S J Hawken
1Department of Psychology, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. chris.krageloh@aut.ac.nz
Purpose:
The purpose of the present study was to validate the use of the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire with medical students.
Methods:
A sample of 274 medical students in their fourth and fifth years of study (80% response rate) completed the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The four-domain factor structure of the questionnaire was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. A variety of other tests of reliability and validity were conducted.
Results:
Goodness-of-fit indices from the confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable, and the factor structure of the WHOQOL-BREF was confirmed in this sample. Reliability was good, but three of the items showed strong ceiling effects.
Conclusion:
The WHOQOL-BREF is valid to use with medical students to assess health-related quality of life. Some items, such as those inquiring about pain and medication, may not be suitable for medical students or young people in general.
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