Questionnaires

Developing questionnaires.

Working initially in 15 field centres in 14 diverse countries, researchers in national field centres worked with local people who were patients, health professionals, and people from the community, to develop the WHOQOL questionnaires.

The first two questionnaires were the WHOQOL-100 and its short form, the WHOQOL-BREF, which were designed for use with sick and well people.  These are the two core measures to which modules (see below) can be added.

Since the development of the first 15 language versions, the questionnaires have been translated into many other languages.

A series of additional questionnaires, or modules, have been developed to round out the concept of quality of life for people in certain circumstances or with specific conditions.

All measures and modules show good standards of validity, reliability and sensitivity to change in both UK and international populations.

There are more than 2,000 citations to the WHOQOL work.

You can find out more about the two types of questionnaire:

Using the questionnaires:

  • personal use - complete the WHOQOL-BREF for yourself.
  • research use - if you would like to use any of the WHOQOL instruments for research.