Validation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) for individuals with COPD

Abstract

Purpose

COPD fits the profile of disabling health conditions. This study aims to validate the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in individuals with COPD.

Material and methods

100 participants with COPD responded to the Brazilian 36-item version of the WHODAS 2.0, as well as the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Spirometric data was extracted from medical records.

Results

The internal consistency analysis showed coefficients for all WHODAS 2.0 domains with a strong correlation (0.70–0.85) except for Life activities, which had a moderate correlation (coefficient = 0.60). In the construct analysis, the coefficients for the WHODAS and SGRQ domains presented a consistent correlation among them, varying from 0.40 to 0.69. No correlation was evidenced among the WHODAS domains and the spirometric data, highlighting that linear measures fail when associated with the functioning of an individual with COPD. Discriminative analysis revealed a capacity for the WHODAS 2.0 to distinguish among COPD different levels of clinical impact obtained from CAT excluding the Getting along domain.

Conclusion

The WHODAS 2.0 shows as a valid instrument that can sensibly assess functioning differences related to the clinical impact classification level in subjects with COPD.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• WHODAS 2.0 is a valid tool to assess functioning in subjects with COPD.

• WHODAS 2.0 is sensitive to functioning differences related to classification level and to clinical impact in individuals with COPD.

• As a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM), WHODAS 2.0 offers the opportunity to develop clinical patient-centered interventions, improving the health care.

• As a low-cost, easy-to-use tool, WHODAS can be a useful resource in the process of clinical assessment of patient functioning.

Keywords:

• Pulmonary Disease
• chronic obstructive
• international classification of functioning
• disability
• and health
• validation study
• World Health Organization
• disability evaluation
• patient-reported outcome measures

Acknowledgment

To the Physiotherapists Gondim, G. M. C., Mendes, L. A., Araújo, A. C. M. and Rodrigues, G. for their collaboration in the data collection of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

PIBIC/FUNCAP program for granting a Scientific Initiation Scholarship to enable this research.