Quality of life assessment in people with HIV: analysis of the WHOQOL-HIV syntax

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the syntax of the World Health Organization's quality of life HIV/AIDS instrument (WHOQOL-HIV), provided by the WHOQOL-HIV Group. As a result, errors and inconsistencies in the syntax of WHOQOL-HIV were found. In face of the fragility found, two new syntaxes for WHOQOL-HIV were proposed: (a) a correction of errors found in the original syntax; and (b) restructuration of the calculation of scores for WHOQOL-HIV, bringing it closer to the WHOQOL-100. Through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, the syntaxes proposed were tested and compared to the syntax of the original WHOQOL-HIV. It was noted that both proposals met their respective purposes. They were also sent to researchers on the theme under consideration to verify the presence of errors. No irregularity was found. It can be concluded that the syntax of the WHOQOL-HIV differs significantly from the syntax of its precursor, the WHOQOL-100, presenting errors and inconsistencies. The differences observed compromise the fidelity of the instrument under consideration and, therefore, it is here commended the use of the syntax proposed in this study, which offers superior precision to portray the empirical reality of quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus positive people.

Keywords:

• quality of life
• WHOQOL-HIV
• WHOQOL-100