Assessment and reliability of the World Health Organisation quality of life (WHO QOL-BREF) questionnaire in total hip replacement patients

Abstract

Background: Several functional scoring tools are available to evaluate the outcomes of total hip replacements (THRs) for diseased or damaged hips. Majority of these scores were devised in western countries and their cross-cultural compatibilities are rarely demonstrated. The World Health Organisation quality of life (WHO QOL-BREF) questionnaire with 4 domains, is one of the best known multilingual instruments for such assessment. Its reliability has never been demonstrated for THRs and the present study was conceptualised for the same. Methods: THRs done over 6 years were followed up retrospectively. Revision THRs and hemiarthroplasties were excluded. All the cases were done by a single senior arthroplasty surgeon. Clinical examination was done and questionnaires for WHO QOL-BREF and Harris Hip scores were given to the patients. Results: The number of patients included in the study was 96 with 115 operated hips. The average age of these patients was 41.40 years ranging from 17 to 80 years. There was strong male preponderance in our series of patients with 90 THRs. The mean score of domain 1 was 70.8 (SD 21.6), domain 2: 72.4 (SD 18.8), domain 3: 74.7 (SD 16.8) and domain 4: 75.4 (SD 14.8); showed significant functional improvement post THR in domain 2 (P ¼ 0.0001), domain 3 (P ¼ 0.0010) and domain 4(P ¼ 0.0001), when compared to scores of general healthy population. Similarly, the scores were significantly improved in all domains as compared to cohorts of post-operative acetabular and hip fractures. The score was found to be a reliable tool with Cronbach's alpha of 0.912 and strong correlation was present with the standard Harris hip scores (p ¼ 0.000). Conclusion: WHO QOL-BREF is a potent tool to assess the quality of life in patients undergoing THRs. It can be used as a single index of measurement and it is simple, reproducible and reliable.

Quality of Life of Patients With Major Amputations in the Tertiary Care Center of Western Rajasthan: A Prospective Observational Study in 2019-2020

“…Many studies have been conducted worldwide, especially in the western world, to evaluate the QOL of amputees, especially those undergoing amputation for CLI [ 1 ]. There are unique challenges in the field of health care faced by developing nations due to a lack of knowledge regarding disease progression and the cost factor, which may often be unbearable for needy patients in rural areas [ 6 ].…”

“…WHO's initiative to develop a quality of life assessment arises from a need for a genuinely international measure of the quality of life and a commitment to the continued promotion of a holistic approach to health and health care [ 6 ].…”

The impact of posttraumatic stress symptoms on quality of life among battered wives in India amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

“…World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-QOL)-BREF It was a 26-item self-report questionnaire that evaluated subjective health, disability, and functional capability, as well as, how illness and impairment affected daily activities and behaviour. It considered four things: environment, social interactions, psychological health, and physical health [ 20 ]. The internal consistency values for the questionnaire and the domains had a Cronbach's alpha of .70.…”

Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and quality of life in women submitted to total hip replacement

“…Total hip replacement (THR) is considered a standard procedure for diseased or damaged hips, 5 and most patients achieve significant long‐lasting improvement 6 . It is common to find out patients who state that their urinary incontinence (UI) have either diminished or disappeared after THR.…”

“…2 The prevalence of OA in Brazilian adult population is 4.14%, being the most prevalent rheumatologic condition among older women and is the result of congenital dislocation or acetabular dysplasia, leading to pain and physical disability. 3,4 Total hip replacement (THR) is considered a standard procedure for diseased or damaged hips, 5 and most patients achieve significant long-lasting improvement. 6 It is common to find out patients who state that their urinary incontinence (UI) have either diminished or disappeared after THR.…”