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Validation of WHO QOL-BREF instrument in Indian adolescents

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Abstract

Objective

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

Methods

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.

Results

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 (pvalues<0.05). Psychological domain had best predictive validity, whereas, social relations domain had best content validity.

Conclusion

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

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, India

    Kasturi Agnihotri, Shally Awasthi & Savitri Thakur

  2. Department of Hospital Administration, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

    Hem Chandra

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

    Uttam Singh

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Shahmina Road, Lucknow (UP), 226003, India

    Shally Awasthi

Authors
  1. Kasturi Agnihotri
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  2. Shally Awasthi
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  3. Hem Chandra
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  4. Uttam Singh
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  5. Savitri Thakur
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Correspondence to Shally Awasthi.

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Agnihotri, K., Awasthi, S., Chandra, H. et al. Validation of WHO QOL-BREF instrument in Indian adolescents. Indian J Pediatr 77, 381–386 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0041-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0041-1

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