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 li fe measure - the WHOQOL-100, together with an abbreviated version, the WHOQ OL-BREF. Preliminary data suggest that the WHOQOL BREF provides a valid and reliable alternative to the lengthier WHOQOL-100. In the present study, th e sensitivity to change of both versions was tested pre- and 3 months post liver transplantation in fifty patients and also in twenty-one non-transpla nted liver disease controls. Quality of Life domains on both measures were highly correlated, and were sensitive to change following transplant and re mained stable on repeat assessment in non-transplanted control patients. Ho wever, the sensitivity to change was significantly reduced for the Social d omain 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 fo llowing major therapeutic interventions for Physical, Psychological and Env ironmental domains of life quality. However, researchers interested in meas uring the Social aspects of life quality may be best advised to use the len gthier WHOQOL-100.