Abstract

CANAVARRO, Maria Cristina et al. Psychometric properties of thr portuguese (from Portugal) version of the world health organisation quality of life in HIV infection (WHOQOL-HIV) instrument. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2008, vol.9, n.1, pp.15-28. ISSN 1645-0086.

The assessment of quality of life in HIV infection is becoming crucial to research and clinical practice. This assessment is also a challenge due to the specific characteristics of the infection, the increased availability of therapeutics, as well as the epidemiological variability inherent to the HIV infection. The main objective of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese from Portugal version of the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Instrument in HIV Infection (WHOQOL-HIV) and to test its performance in a sample of HIV-infected patients. The Portuguese version of WHOQOL-HIV was administrated in a sample of 200 HIV-positive patients. Patients also completed the Portuguese versions of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Global health perception and HIV status were used as discriminator criteria. The reliability and validity studies done for Portuguese of Portugal of the original version of the WHOQOL-HIV revealed good psychometric characteristics, such as internal consistency, test retest stability, construct and discriminant validity, permitting the use of this version of WHOQOL in our country.

Keywords : World Health Organization; Quality of life; HIV/AIDS; Psychometric studies; WHOQOL-HIV.

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