Quality of life

Name of the instrument

World Health Organization Quality of Life

Abbreviation

WHOQOL-BREF

Number of items

26

Terms of use

This instrument is free of charge but a user licence must be requested from the WHOLQol group before it is used: http://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/whoqol/en/

Language

English, French and 17 other languages

Data collection method

Self-report questionnaire, in hard copy, in person or by telephone.

Target population

Adults

Interpretation of the results and thresholds

The 26 items are ranked on a five-level scale (score range 1-5). It is possible to obtain a score for each of the four domains (through the mean score). The scores by domain must be multiplied by four to be comparable with the WHOQOL-100. Two items can be analyzed separately. A total score cannot be produced.

Is the questionnaire available in the toolkit?

No

Other versions

The 100-item HOQoL-100 is the full version. There are other versions, such as the WHOQol-HIV and the WhoQol spirituality, religiousness and personnal beliefs (WHOQol-SRPB).

References

• Fernandez, L., Aulagnier, M., Bonnet, A., Guinard, A., Pedinielli, J. L. et Préau, M. (2005). Module VI – Outils psychométriques. Dans P. Verger et al. (dir.). Démarches épidémiologiques après une catastrophe : anticiper les catastrophes  : enjeux de santé publique, connaissances, outils et méthodes (p. 81-86). Paris : La documentation française. Repéré à http://invs.santepubliquefrance.fr/publications/2005/epidemiologie_catastrophes/module6.pdf
• Organisation mondiale de la Santé (2018). The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL). Repéré à http://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/whoqol/en/
• Organisation mondiale de la Santé. (1996). WHOQOL-BREF : introduction, administration, scoring and generic version of the assessment : field trial version. Genève : Organisation mondiale de la Santé. Repéré à http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/63529/WHOQOL-BREF.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
• The WHOQOL Group (1998). Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychol Med, 28(3), 551-558.

Name of the instrument

EuroQol-5-Dimension

Abbreviation

EQ-5D-5L

Number of items

6

Terms of use

• Protected. Permission must be requested from the office of the EuroQol group: https://euroqol.org/registration-form/
• The cost of use is determined according to the type of study, funding source, number of respondents and the number of translations (languages) required.

Language

English, French and more than 130 other languages

Data collection method

Self-report questionnaire. Is administered better in hard copy and face-to-face interviews than by telephone.

Target population

Adults

Interpretation of the results and thresholds

• For each of the dimensions, there are five levels coded from 1 to 5. Consequently, a single-digit number is obtained for each dimension. Combining the five dimensions produces a five-digit number, ranging from 11111 to 55555, which represents the respondent’s health status, e.g. a person with the code 11111 has no problem in respect of the five dimensions. The number corresponding to health status must then be converted into an index level. The user’s guide explains the method in detail. It is possible to present the results of the index by a measure of central tendency (mean) and a measure of dispersion (standard deviation). It is also possible to group together levels 1, 2 and 3 (without problems) and levels 4 and 5 (with problems) to make the variables of the five dimensions categorical. There are several other methods to attribute a score.
• For the EQ-VAS, a measure of central tendency and a measure of dispersion must be presented.
• Both instruments must be used (the EQ-5D-5L and the EQ-VAS), otherwise it is impossible to mention that the EQ-5D-5L has been used.

Is the questionnaire available in the toolkit?

No

Other versions

The EQ-5D-3L is the first version of this instrument. There is a version for children (EQ-5D-Y) comprising five dimensions and three levels.

References

• EuroQol Group (2009). EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire sur la santé. Version française pour le Canada. Consulted at https://cloudfront.ualberta.ca/-/media/medicine/departments/division-of-critical-care/documents/research-documents/canada-french-eq5d5l-paper-self-complete.pdf
• van Reene, M. and Janssen, B. (2015). EQ-5D-5L User Guide. Basic information on how to use the EQ-5D-5L instrument. EuroQol group. Consulted at https://euroqol.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/EQ-5D-5L_UserGuide_2015.pdf

Name of the instrument

SF-12v2 Health Survey

Abbreviation

SF-12v2

Number of items

12

Terms of use

Protected. A user licence must be obtained: https://www.optum.com/campaign/ls/outcomes-survey-request.html

Language

English, French and several other languages

Data collection method

Self-report questionnaire, in hard copy, in person or by telephone.

Target population

Adults

Interpretation of the results and thresholds

It is possible to calculate a physical composite score (PCS) and a mental health composite score (MCS). An algorithm, which is too long to be transcribed here, can be used to calculate the scores and is available in the SF-12v2 user manual. The two indices are converted on a scale of 0 to 100. The average score obtained in the sample can be compared to the national norm (average of 50 with a standard deviation of 10).

Is the questionnaire available in the toolkit?

No

Other versions

The SF-12v2 is the second edition of the SF-12, which is derived from the
36-item SF-36. The SF-6D is the shorter version of the SF-12v2. However, there is very little data on the interpretation of the scores of the SF-6D.

References

• Optum. (2018). SF Health Surveys. Consulted at https://campaign.optum.com/content/optum/en/optum-outcomes/what-we-do/health-surveys.html
• Ware, J.E. (2002) How to score version 2 of the SF-12 health survey (with a supplement documenting version 1). Health Assessment Lab.