[Dimensional validity of WHOQOL-BREF in health workers]

This study's objective was to revisit the internal consistency and convergent and discriminant factorial validity of the Brazilian version of WHOQOL-BREF, in a cross-sectional study of 386 health workers. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test WHOQOL-BREF's structure (24 and 26 items) and the model suggested by exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was measured through composite reliability; convergent and discriminant validity by average variance extracted and factor correlations. The best-fit model, suggested by exploratory factor analysis (26 items), had 6 factors: 4 theoretically proposed (general, psychological, social relationships, and environment) and 2 obtained by subdividing the physical domain. Items "energy" and "security" (from physical and environment domains) were relocated to the psychological domain. Composite reliability was good (> 0.70), except for the general factor. Convergent and discriminant validity were adequate for social relationships and physical 2. Controversies on WHOQOL-BREF's dimensionality persist, particularly in the physical domain.