A comparison of the WHOQOL-100 and the WHOQOL-BREF in detecting change in quality of life following liver transplantation

The World Health Organization has recently produced a generic quality of life measure – the WHOQOL-100, together with an abbreviated version, the WHOQOL-BREF. Preliminary data suggest that the WHOQOL BREF provides a valid and reliable alternative to the lengthier WHOQOL-100. In the present study, the sensitivity to change of both versions was tested pre- and 3 months post liver transplantation in fifty patients and also in twenty-one non-transplanted liver disease controls. Quality of Life domains on both measures were highly correlated, and were sensitive to change following transplant and remained stable on repeat assessment in non-transplanted control patients. However, the sensitivity to change was significantly reduced for the Social domain in the WHOQOL BREF. It is concluded that the WHO-QOL-BREF is a useful alternative to the WHOQOL-100 in evaluating quality of life improvement following major therapeutic interventions for Physical, Psychological and Environmental domains of life quality. However, researchers interested in measuring the Social aspects of life quality may be best advised to use the lengthier WHOQOL-100.