Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire for use with medical students.

PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to validate the use of the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire with medical students. METHODS A sample of 274 medical students in their fourth and fifth years of study (80% response rate) completed the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The four-domain factor structure of the questionnaire was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. A variety of other tests of reliability and validity were conducted. RESULTS Goodness-of-fit indices from the confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable, and the factor structure of the WHOQOL-BREF was confirmed in this sample. Reliability was good, but three of the items showed strong ceiling effects. CONCLUSION The WHOQOL-BREF is valid to use with medical students to assess health-related quality of life. Some items, such as those inquiring about pain and medication, may not be suitable for medical students or young people in general.