title: Traumatic brain injury and quality of life: initial Australian validation of the QOLIBRI.
abstract: The Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) is a new international instrument for assessing quality of life after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We report first use and validation. Patients previously admitted with TBI to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, were randomly sampled (n=66, 61% response rate) and administered the QOLIBRI. Fifty-five re-completed it at 2-week follow-up. QOLIBRI scales (with two exceptions) met standard criteria for internal consistency, homogeneity and test-re-test reliability. Correlations with the Assessment of Quality of Life, Short Form-36 version 2 and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were moderate. The QOLIBRI was sensitive to the Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, and measures of social isolation (Friendship Scale). There was evidence that further refinement may improve the QOLIBRI. The QOLIBRI should be considered as an outcome measure by clinicians and researchers conducting treatment trials, rehabilitation studies or epidemiological surveys into the treatment or sequelae of trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Level 1 North, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. graemeeh@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hawthorne
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gruen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houseman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult