TURK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI

Objective: The aim of this paper is to present the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the add-on module for the WHOQOL measures of quality of life for use with adults having physical or intellectual disabilities known as the WHOQOL-DIS. Methods: Data were collected from 150 Intellectual Disabled (ID) and 157 Physically Disabled (PD) persons in Turkey (Izmir) participating center of the global WHOQOL-DIS project. WHOQOL-DIS module is consisted of 12 disability specific items in addition to 26 generic items of WHOQOL-Bref. The proposed factorial structure (3 factors) of WHOQOL-DIS global study used in the psychometric analyses of the Turkish versions of WHOQOL-DIS. Reliability analyses and construct validity was tested via CFA analyses and convergent and discriminant validity analyses were assessed in relation to SWLS and WHODAS-II respectively. Results: Cronbach alpha values of the WHOQOL-DIS factors were as follows for ID and PD samples respectively: Factor 1 (Discrimination and support)= 0.54 and 0.64; Factor 2 (Independence)= 0.78 and 0.79; Factor 3 (Community participation)= 0.88 and 0.83. CFI and RMSEA values were 0.98 and 0.065 for ID sample and 0.98 ve 0.064 for PD sample respectively. Convergent-discriminant validities were satisfactory for all factors in PD group (r= 0.27 -0.62) whereas Factor 1 was not found discriminative in the ID group (r= 0.09 -0.10). Conclusion: Psychometric properties provided satisfactory evidence of reliability and validity of the Turkish version of WHOQOL-DIS. Nevertheless the results of Factor 1 (Discrimination and support) in ID persons should be interpreted with caution