Can the Web-Form WHOQOL-BREF be an Alternative to the Paper-Form?

Byline: Wen-Ching Chen (1,2), Jung-Der Wang (1,3), Jing-Shiang Hwang (4), Chiao-Chicy Chen (5), Chia-Huei Wu (6), Grace Yao (6) Keywords: Comparison; Reliability; Validity; Web version; WHOQOL-BREF Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test whether the web version is an alternative to the paper version of the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). Two studies were conducted. Study 1 used crossover self-controlled trials with 80 participants to compare the web and paper versions and to determine the test--retest reliability of the web version. Study 2 used data from 1,016 web participants to analyze the internal consistency and concurrent and construct validity of the web version. The correlations of domain scores between the web and paper versions ranged from 0.71 to 0.85. Dependent t tests showed no significant differences in domain scores between these two versions. The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for test--retest reliability of web version ranged from 0.79 to 0.91. The Cronbach's [alpha] for internal consistency reliability ranged from 0.60 to 0.83. Multiple regression models indicated that the web version has good concurrent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the second-order hierarchical factor model also supported the construct validity of the web version. The web version of the WHOQOL-BREF can be the alternative to the paper version for health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) evaluation. Author Affiliation: (1) Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (2) Yuli Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (3) Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (4) Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (5) Song De Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (6) Department of Psychology, College of Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sect. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan Article History: Registration Date: 20/10/2008 Received Date: 08/01/2008 Accepted Date: 19/10/2008 Online Date: 05/11/2008