The WHOQOL-100 has good psychometric properties in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective follow-up study examines the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-100) for assessing quality of life in women suspected of having breast cancer and disease-free breast cancer survivors.


METHODS
The WHOQOL-100 was tested at five points in time in women with a palpable lump in the breast or an abnormality on a screening mammography (N=356) and breast cancer survivors (N=140). Furthermore, all participants completed measures of anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale). Moreover, women who were diagnosed with breast cancer also completed the EORTC-QLQ-BR-23 at time points 2-5. Reliability (internal consistency; test-retest reliability) and construct validity were tested.


RESULTS
Confirmatory factor analyses on the WHOQOL-100 items showed a good fit with models reflecting six factors (physical health, psychological health, level of independence, social relationships, environment, spirituality/religion/personal beliefs) or four factors (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, environment). Internal consistency was adequate. Test-retest correlations were high. The WHOQOL-100 correlated highly with related constructs and showed low correlations with unrelated constructs.


CONCLUSIONS
The WHOQOL-100 is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring QOL in women suspected of having breast cancer and disease-free breast cancer survivors.
Den Oudsten
Brenda L
BL
Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands. b.l.denoudsten@uvt.nl
Van Heck
Guus L
GL
Van der Steeg
Alida F W
AF
Roukema
Jan A
JA
De Vries
Jolanda
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult