Development and validation of the Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-OLD module.
OBJECTIVE
The increasing proportion of older adults in the general population and the specific characteristics of this age group show the need for the development of specific instruments to measure quality of life in older adults. The study aimed at describing the development and validation of the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older Persons (WHOQOL-OLD) module.


METHODS
The WHOQOL-OLD instrument was administered in a sample of 424 older adults in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, in 2005. The questionnaire comprises 24 items divided into six facets: sensory abilities; autonomy; past, present and future activities; social participation; death and dying; and intimacy. Besides the WHOQOL-OLD module, the WHOQOL-BREF, BDI and BHS instruments were also applied. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.


RESULTS
The instrument showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficients ranging from 0.71 to 0.88), discriminant validity (p<0.01), concurrent validity (correlation coefficients ranging from -0.61 to -0.50) and test-retest reliability (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.58 to 0.82). Findings concerning criterion validity need further studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The WHOQOL-OLD module is a useful alternative with good psychometric performance in the investigation of quality of life in older adults.
Fleck
Marcelo P
MP
Departamento de Psiquiatria e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2400, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Chachamovich
Eduardo
E
Trentini
Clarissa
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014177:Translations