Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32620090›Full record

ArticleBMC neurology2020

Assessment of quality of life in individuals with chronic headache. Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF.

Patrick Brzoska

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC neurology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 37% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Systematic review of the factor structure of WHOQOL-bref in adult population.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Patrick BrzoskaHealth Services Research, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, D-58448, Witten, Germany. patrick.brzoska@uni-wh.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6489-5198
Witten/Herdecke University · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe WHOQOL-BREF is a frequently used instrument for the assessment of health-related quality of life. Unlike other generic instruments used for the assessment of this construct, little is known about its properties in individuals with headache disorders. The present study examines the reliability and factorial validity of the WHOQOL-BREF in individuals with chronic headache residing in Austria.

methodsData from a representative population-based survey on 963 individuals with chronic headache surveyed between 2013 and 2015 was used. The factorial validity was examined by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Differential item functioning related to sex was analyzed using multiple indicators multiple causes models.

resultsInformation on 239 men and 724 women with chronic headache was available. The four-factor, 24-item baseline model showed a moderate fit (RMSEA = 0.066; CFI = 0.868; TLI = 0.852; SRMR = 0.053), which improved significantly after the addition of six error covariances (RMSEA = 0.052; CFI = 0.920; TLI = 0.908; SRMR = 0.046). Sex-related differential item functioning was observed in two items of the environment factor, two items of the psychological health factor and two items of the physical health factor.

conclusionsAfter some modifications to the measurement model, the WHOQOL-BREF shows a satisfactory fit among individuals with chronic headache in Austria. Because of these modifications and the questionnaire's susceptibility for differential item functioning, a latent variable framework should be employed for the analysis. Future studies need to confirm these results for other language regions and should also examine different subtypes of headache.

Indexed as

Quality of LifeSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentAdultAustriaFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleHeadache DisordersHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychometricsReproducibility of ResultsYoung AdultAssessmentDifferential item functioningQuality of lifeWHOQOL-BREF

Identifiers

PMID32620090
PMCPMC7333387
OpenAlexW3040125479

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.