A partial validation of the WHOQOL-OLD in a sample of older people in South Africa

• Main Authors: Lizanle Van Biljon, Petrus Nel, Vera Roos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015-10-01
• Series: Global Health Action
• Subjects: quality of life; older people; long-term care facility; psychometric properties; WHOQOL-OLD measuring instrument
• Online Access: http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/28209/pdf_150

Background: This paper describes the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD, an add-on module to the World Health Organization's Quality of Life measure for older people in a South African sample. The WHOQOL-OLD module was further condensed into three short versions which contain the best items of the original module. The psychometric properties associated with the three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD are also described. Method: Data were collected from Afrikaans-speaking older people (n=176) residing in long-term care facilities in Potchefstroom, situated in the North-West province of South Africa. The mean age of participants was 77 years (SD=8.1). Fifty participants were males and 126 were females. All reported average-to-good health and cognitive ability. Results: The current study found encouraging results related to the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD as well as the three short versions of this instrument. Results stemming from the data of the current sample seem to be a good fit with the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD. The reliabilities associated with the various sub-dimensions point to a reliable instrument. Conclusions: The WHOQOL-OLD with its 24 items or any of the three short versions of this instrument can, therefore, be utilised in a South African context (Version 3 of the short versions seems to be the better fitting version).