**3. WHOQOL-HIV**

Aiming at creating a tool for assessing the quality of life directed to people living with HIV, researchers from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) and WHO carried out studies in people with HIV in nine different countries. The result of this study was the instrument WHOQOL-HIV, an additional module specifically designed for people with HIV or AIDS (WHO Field Center for the Study of Quality of Life of Bath, 2008).

WHOQOL-HIV evaluates the quality of life from six domains and 29 facets. The domains and facets are the same as in WHOQOL-100, with the addition of five specific facets for people living with HIV/AIDS. The facet of WHOQOL-100 that evaluates the quality of life from the perspective of the assessed person, not included in any domain, remains in WHOQOL-HIV. The specific facets for people with HIV, as well as the facets from WHOQOL-100, are composed of four questions (O'Connell et al., 2004). The additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV are:


The additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV are included in the domains already existent in WHOQOL-100, featuring the following configuration (Table 4):


Source: Adapted from O'Connell et al. (2004)

Table 4. Domains and facets exclusive of WHOQOL-HIV

Based on the previously mentioned configuration, questions which constitute additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV, with inverted questions written in italics, are:

The calculation of scores of WHOQOL-bref follows the same logic of WHOQOL-100, except for the calculation of scores of facets. In WHOQOL-bref each facet is represented by a single question, and therefore the scores of facets are not calculated (The WHOQOL

Aiming at creating a tool for assessing the quality of life directed to people living with HIV, researchers from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) and WHO carried out studies in people with HIV in nine different countries. The result of this study was the instrument WHOQOL-HIV, an additional module specifically designed for people with HIV or AIDS (WHO Field Center for the Study of Quality of Life of Bath,

WHOQOL-HIV evaluates the quality of life from six domains and 29 facets. The domains and facets are the same as in WHOQOL-100, with the addition of five specific facets for people living with HIV/AIDS. The facet of WHOQOL-100 that evaluates the quality of life from the perspective of the assessed person, not included in any domain, remains in WHOQOL-HIV. The specific facets for people with HIV, as well as the facets from WHOQOL-100, are composed of four questions (O'Connell et al., 2004). The additional





The additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV are included in the domains already existent in

Based on the previously mentioned configuration, questions which constitute additional

52. Forgiveness and Blame

54. Death and Dying

53. Concerns about the Future

Domain I – Physical 50. Symptoms of PLWHA

Domain IV – Social Relationships 51. Social Inclusion


WHOQOL-100, featuring the following configuration (Table 4):

Domain VI – Spiritual/Religion/Personal Beliefs

Table 4. Domains and facets exclusive of WHOQOL-HIV

facets of WHOQOL-HIV, with inverted questions written in italics, are:

Source: Adapted from O'Connell et al. (2004)

**DOMAINS FACETS** 

Group, 1996).

2008).

**3. WHOQOL-HIV** 

facets of WHOQOL-HIV are:

after HIV infection;

could present;

infection;

dying.


Source: Adapted from Zimpel & Fleck (2008)

Table 5. Additional questions of WHOQOL-HIV

Quality of Life Assessment in People

COMPUTE

Table 6. WHOQOL-HIV syntax

inverted;

on WHOQOL-HIV syntax.

**4. WHOQOL-HIV-bref** 

configuration:

ENVIRO+TRANS)/8\*4.

results of the WHOQOL-HIV are presented as follows:

by a division by four, being represented in a scale of 1 to 5;

Source: Adapted from The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002)

being represented in a scale of 4 to 20;

Living with HIV/AIDS: Clarifying the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-Bref Instruments 171

COMPUTE DOMAIN1=(PAIN+ENERGY+SLEEP+SYMPTOM)/4\*4. COMPUTE DOMAIN2=(PFEEL+COG+ESTEEM+BODY+NFEEL)/5\*4. COMPUTE DOMAIN3=(MOBIL+ADL+DEPEND+WORK)/4\*4. COMPUTE DOMAIN4=(RELATIO+SUPPORT+SEX+INCLUSI)/4\*4.

DOMAIN5=(SAFE+HOME+FINANCE+CARE+INFO+LEISURE+

COMPUTE DOMAIN6=(FORGIVE+FUTURE+DEATH+SRPB)/4\*4.

The calculation of WHOQOL-HIV results is similar to the method used in WHOQOL-100. However, some criteria used in WHOQOL-100 were not inherited by WHOQOL-HIV. The




Contrarily to WHOQOL-100, the scores of domains and facets represent the mean of these variables only when all the belonging items to these are correctly punctuated. The score of facets is calculated since these presents one or more answered question, while the score of domains is calculated since these owns at least one facet that has been scored. The scores are not converted to a 0-100 scale. The exclusion criterion for individuals who answered incorrectly or doesn't answer more than 20% of total items from instrument does not exist

Under the same reason for the development of WHOQOL-bref, the WHOQOL Group developed an abbreviated version of WHOQOL-HIV. The WHOQOL-HIV-bref is based on

The 26 questions of WHOQOL-bref are repeated in WHOQOL-HIV-bref, being added to these five questions that represent the additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV (The WHOQOL-HIV Group, 2002). Contrary to what occurs in WHOQOL-bref, the facets belonging to the domains Level of Independence and Spiritual/Religion/Personal Beliefs are not incorporated to the Physical and Psychological domains, having, therefore, the same configuration of the domains of WHOQOL-HIV, presenting the following

WHOQOL-bref, in a way each facet is represented by one single question.


**STEPS WHOQOL-HIV SYNTAX** 

COMPUTE DEATH=(F541+F542+F543+F544)/4. COMPUTE GENERAL=(G1+G2+G3+G4)/4.

The syntax for calculation of WHOQOL-HIV domain and facets' score, correcting the error reported by Pedroso et al. (2010), is the following:



Source: Adapted from The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002)

#### Table 6. WHOQOL-HIV syntax

170 Global View of HIV Infection

The syntax for calculation of WHOQOL-HIV domain and facets' score, correcting the error

RECODE F11 F12 F13 F14 F21 F22 F23 F24 F31 F32 F33 F34 F501 F502 F503 F504 F41 F42 F43 F44 F51 F52 F53 F54 F61 F62 F63 F64 F71 F72 F73 F74 F81 F82 F83 F84 F91 F92 F93 F94 F101 F102 F103 F104 F111 F112 F113 F114 F121 F122 F123 F124 F131 F132 F133 F134 F141 F142 F143 F144 F151 F152 F153 F154 F511 F512 F513 F514 F161 F162 F163 F164 F171 F172 F173 F174 F181 F182 F183 F184 F191 F192 F193 F194 F201 F202 F203 F204 F211 F212 F213 F214 F221 F222 F223 F224 F231 F232 F233 F234 F241 F242 F243 F244 F521 F522 F523 F524 F531 F532 F533 F534 F541 F542 F543 F544 G1 G2 G3 G4

RECODE F11 F12 F13 F14 F22 F24 F32 F34 F72 F73 F81 F82 F83 F84 F93 F94 F102 F104 F111 F112 F113 F114 F131 F154 F163 F182 F184 F222 F232 F234 F501 F502 F503 F504 F514 F512 F521 F522 F523 F524 F531 F532 F533 F534 F541 F542 F544 F543 (1=5) (2=4) (3=3) (4=2) (5=1) (1=5) (2=4) (3=3) (4=2)

reported by Pedroso et al. (2010), is the following:

Check all 120 items from assessment have a range of 1-

5

Reverse negatively phrased items

Compute facet and domain scores

(5=1).

**STEPS WHOQOL-HIV SYNTAX** 

(1=1) (2=2) (3=3) (4=4) (5=5) (ELSE=SYSMIS).

COMPUTE PAIN=(F11+F12+F13+F14)/4. COMPUTE ENERGY=(F21+F22+F23+F24)/4. COMPUTE SLEEP=(F31+F32+F33+F34)/4.

COMPUTE PFEEL=(F41+F42+F43+F44)/4. COMPUTE COG=(F51+F52+F53+F54)/4. COMPUTE ESTEEM=(F61+F62+F63+F64)/4. COMPUTE BODY=(F71+F72+F73+F74)/4. COMPUTE NFEEL=(F81+F82+F83+F84)/4. COMPUTE MOBIL=(F91+F92+F93+F94)/4. COMPUTE ADL=(F101+F102+F103+F104)/4. COMPUTE DEPEND=(F111+F112+F113+F114)/4. COMPUTE WORK=(F121+F122+F123+F124)/4. COMPUTE RELATIO=(F131+F132+F133+F134)/4. COMPUTE SUPPORT=(F141+F142+F143+F144)/4. COMPUTE SEX=(F151+F152+F153+F154)/4. COMPUTE INCLUSI=(F511+F512+F513+F514)/4. COMPUTE SAFE=(F161+F162+F163+F164)/4. COMPUTE HOME=(F171+F172+F173+F174)/4. COMPUTE FINANCE=(F181+F182+F183+F184)/4. COMPUTE CARE=(F191+F192+F193+F194)/4. COMPUTE INFO=(F201+F202+F203+F204)/4. COMPUTE LEISURE=(F211+F212+F213+F214)/4. COMPUTE ENVIRO=(F221+F222+F223+F224)/4. COMPUTE TRANS=(F231+F232+F233+F234)/4. COMPUTE SRPB=(F241+F242+F243+F244)/4. COMPUTE FORGIVE=(F521+F522+F523+F524)/4. COMPUTE FUTURE=(F531+F532+F533+F534)/4.

COMPUTE SYMPTOM=(F501+F502+F503+F504)/4.

The calculation of WHOQOL-HIV results is similar to the method used in WHOQOL-100. However, some criteria used in WHOQOL-100 were not inherited by WHOQOL-HIV. The results of the WHOQOL-HIV are presented as follows:


Contrarily to WHOQOL-100, the scores of domains and facets represent the mean of these variables only when all the belonging items to these are correctly punctuated. The score of facets is calculated since these presents one or more answered question, while the score of domains is calculated since these owns at least one facet that has been scored. The scores are not converted to a 0-100 scale. The exclusion criterion for individuals who answered incorrectly or doesn't answer more than 20% of total items from instrument does not exist on WHOQOL-HIV syntax.

## **4. WHOQOL-HIV-bref**

Under the same reason for the development of WHOQOL-bref, the WHOQOL Group developed an abbreviated version of WHOQOL-HIV. The WHOQOL-HIV-bref is based on WHOQOL-bref, in a way each facet is represented by one single question.

The 26 questions of WHOQOL-bref are repeated in WHOQOL-HIV-bref, being added to these five questions that represent the additional facets of WHOQOL-HIV (The WHOQOL-HIV Group, 2002). Contrary to what occurs in WHOQOL-bref, the facets belonging to the domains Level of Independence and Spiritual/Religion/Personal Beliefs are not incorporated to the Physical and Psychological domains, having, therefore, the same configuration of the domains of WHOQOL-HIV, presenting the following configuration:

Quality of Life Assessment in People

Q30)/8 \*4

**HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments** 

use and is not for free distribution.

statistics of WHOQOL-100.

Source: The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002) Table 8. WHOQOL-HIV-bref syntax

Check all 31 items from assessment have a range of 1-5

Reverse negatively phrased items

Compute domain scores

Living with HIV/AIDS: Clarifying the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-Bref Instruments 173

The calculation of WHOQOL-HIV-bref's score then follows a different logic regarding

RECODE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 Q19 Q20 Q21 Q22 Q23 Q24 Q25 Q26 Q27 Q28 Q29 Q30 Q31

RECODE Q3 Q4 Q5 Q8 Q9 Q10 Q31 (1=5) (2=4) (3=3) (4=2) (5=1).

COMPUTE Domain 5 = (Q12 + Q13 + Q16 + Q18 + Q19 + Q28 + Q29 +

WHOQOL-bref instrument, consisting of the following command lines:

**STEPS WHOQOL-HIV-BREF SYNTAX**

(1=1) (2=2) (3=3) (4=4) (5=5) (ELSE=SYSMIS).

COMPUTE Domain 1 = (Q3 + Q4 + Q14 + Q21)/4 \* 4 COMPUTE Domain 2 = (Q6 + Q11 + Q15 + Q24 + Q31)/5 \*4 COMPUTE Domain 3 = (Q5 + Q22 + Q23 + Q20)/4 \* 4 COMPUTE Domain 4 = (Q27 +Q26 + Q25 + Q17)/4\*4

COMPUTE Domain6 = (Q7 + Q8 + Q9+ Q10)/4 \*4



multiplied by four, being represented in a scale of 4 to 20;

number of questions higher than 20% from the total instrument items.

The WHOQOL-HIV-bref syntax's textual transcription presents the following configuration:


As can be realized, just as WHOQOL-HIV, the WHOQOL-HIV-bref's Syntax presents the same present fragility found in WHOQOL-HIV regarding the domains and facets score calculation, because it's not accomplished the arithmetic mean of domain items. There is not also the conversion of domains and facets score for a 0-100 scale. Lastly, and is not existing the criteria of exclusion of individuals who doesn't answer or answered incorrectly a

**5. Tools for the calculation of scores and descriptive statistics of WHOQOL-**

To obtain the results to apply the WHOQOL instruments, WHOQOL Group recommends the use of SPSS software, a statistical software program that requires specific expertise for its

Looking for the removal of such limitations, tools were built from the software Microsoft Excel, a software program for broad accessibility, to calculate scores and descriptive statistics for WHOQOL-HIV and for WHOQOL-HIV-bref. Such tools were made in the same manner as the tool developed by Pedroso et al. (2009) to calculate scores and descriptive


Source: Adapted from The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002)

Table 7. Questions of WHOQOL-HIV-bref

The calculation of WHOQOL-HIV-bref's score then follows a different logic regarding WHOQOL-bref instrument, consisting of the following command lines:


Source: The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002)

172 Global View of HIV Infection

*doing what you need to do?* 

How much do you enjoy life?

*despair, anxiety, depression?*

daily living activities?

your day-to-day life?

How well are you able to concentrate?

How satisfied are you with yourself?

H ow well are you able to get around?

How satisfied are you with your sex life?

How safe do you feel in your daily life? How healthy is your physical environment? Have you enough money to meet your needs?

How satisfied are you with your transport?

How would you rate your quality of life? How satisfied are you with your health?

*How much do you fear the future? How much do you worry about death?*

*To what extent do you feel that physical pain prevents you from* 

*How much are you bothered by any physical problems related to* 

Do you have enough energy for everyday life? How satisfied are you with your sleep?

Are you able to accept your bodily appearance?

*How often do you have negative feelings such as blue mood,* 

How satisfied are you with your ability to perform your

How satisfied are you with your capacity for work?

To what extent do you feel accepted by the people you

How satisfied are you with your personal relationships?

How satisfied are you with the support you get from your

How available to you is the information that you need in

To what extent do you have the opportunity for leisure

How satisfied are you with the conditions of your living

To what extent do you feel your life to be meaningful? *To what extent are you bothered by people blaming you for your* 

How satisfied are you with your access to health services?

*How much do you need any medical treatment to function in your* 

**DOMAINS QUESTIONS**

*your HIV infection?*

*daily life?*

know?

friends?

activities?

*HIV status?*

place?

Domain I - Physical

Domain II - Psychological

Domain III – Level of Independence

Domain IV – Social

Domain V - Environment

Domain VI - Spiritual / Religion / Personal Beliefs

Overall Quality of Life and General Health

Source: Adapted from The WHOQOL-HIV Group (2002)

Table 7. Questions of WHOQOL-HIV-bref

Perceptions

Relations

Table 8. WHOQOL-HIV-bref syntax

The WHOQOL-HIV-bref syntax's textual transcription presents the following configuration:


As can be realized, just as WHOQOL-HIV, the WHOQOL-HIV-bref's Syntax presents the same present fragility found in WHOQOL-HIV regarding the domains and facets score calculation, because it's not accomplished the arithmetic mean of domain items. There is not also the conversion of domains and facets score for a 0-100 scale. Lastly, and is not existing the criteria of exclusion of individuals who doesn't answer or answered incorrectly a number of questions higher than 20% from the total instrument items.

#### **5. Tools for the calculation of scores and descriptive statistics of WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments**

To obtain the results to apply the WHOQOL instruments, WHOQOL Group recommends the use of SPSS software, a statistical software program that requires specific expertise for its use and is not for free distribution.

Looking for the removal of such limitations, tools were built from the software Microsoft Excel, a software program for broad accessibility, to calculate scores and descriptive statistics for WHOQOL-HIV and for WHOQOL-HIV-bref. Such tools were made in the same manner as the tool developed by Pedroso et al. (2009) to calculate scores and descriptive statistics of WHOQOL-100.

Quality of Life Assessment in People

**7. References** 

9536

0954-0121

1278, ISSN 0954-0121

ISSN 0954-0121

Living with HIV/AIDS: Clarifying the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-Bref Instruments 175

Canavarro, M.C. et al. (2011). Quality of life assessment in HIV-infection: validation of the

Fleck, M.P.A. (2008). Problemas conceituais em qualidade de vida. In: *A avaliação de qualidade* 

Mweemba, P. et al. (2011). Validation of the World Health Organization Quality of Life HIV

O'Connell, K. et al. (2003). Preliminary development of the World Health Organization's

O'Connell, K. et al. (2004). WHOQOL-HIV for quality of life assessment among people

Pedroso, B. et al. (2009). Cálculo dos escores e estatística descritiva do WHOQOL-100

Pedroso, B. et al. (2010). Quality of life assessment in people with HIV: analysis of the

Saddki, N. et al. (2009). Validity and reliability of the Malay version of WHOQOL-HIV BREF

Skevington, S.M. & O'Connell, K. A. (2003). Measuring Quality of Life in HIV and AIDS: A

Starace, F. et al. (2002). Quality of life assessment in HIV-positive persons: application and

The WHOQOL Group. (1998a). The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment

*Medicine*, Vol. 46, No 12, (December 1998), pp. 1569-1585, ISSN 0277-9536

The WHOQOL Group. (1998c). Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-

The WHOQOL Group. (1996). *WHOQOL-bref: introduction, administration, scoring and generic* 

The WHOQOL-HIV Group. (2002). *WHOQOL-HIV Instrument Users Manual*. Geneva

(February 2011), pp. 187-194, ISSN 0954-0121

ISBN 978-85-363-0947-7, Porto Alegre, Brazil

(October 2004), pp. 882-889, ISSN 0954-0121

2009), pp. 23-32, ISSN 2175-0858

2002), pp. 405-415, ISSN 0954-0121

pp. 551-558, ISSN 0033-2917

*version of assessment*. Geneva

The WHOQOL Group. (1998b). *WHOQOL User Manual*. Geneva

Vol. 22, No 1, (February 2011), pp. 53-66, ISSN 1055-3290

European Portuguese version of WHOQOL-HIV. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 23, No 2,

*de vida: guia para profissionais da saúde*, Fleck, M.P.A., et al. (Eds.), pp. 19-28. Artmed,

instrument in a Zambian sample. *Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care*,

Quality of Life HIV instrument (WHOQOL-HIV): analysis of the pilot version. *Social & Science Medicine*, Vol. 57, No 7, (October 2003), pp. 1259-1275, ISSN 0277-

living with HIV and AIDS: results from a field test. *AIDS Care*, Vol 16, No 7,

utilizando o Microsoft Excel. *Revista Brasileira de Qualidade de Vida*, Vol 1, No 1, (July

WHOQOL-HIV syntax. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 22, No 3, (March 2010), pp. 361,372, ISSN

in patients with HIV infection. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 21, No 10, (October 2009), pp. 1271-

Review of the Recent Literature. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 18, No 3, (June 2003), pp. 331-350,

validation of the WHOQOL-HIV, Italian version. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 14, No 3, (June

(WHOQOL): development and general psychometric properties. *Social Science &* 

BREF Quality of Life Assessment. *Psychological Medicine*, Vol. 28, No 3, (May 1998),

The tools proposed on this study automatically perform all calculations in the incipient syntaxes provided by the WHOQOL-HIV Group. The researchers who use it need only to fill in the specified cells the answers given by respondents.

After data insertion, to use the results of theirs research, researcher may copy the individual scores for each respondent, results of descriptive statistics, and graphics; however, without changing such results. Is allowed to insert and edit values just in the area to tabulate the answers of respondents.

To validate such tools, simulations were performed with real data applications of each of the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instrument, comparing the results by using the proposed tools with those from SPSS. The results from both software programs were exactly the same, thus ensuring the reliability of tools, which are object of this study.

The tools were tested on different versions of the Microsoft Office: 2000, XP, 2003, 2007 and 2010. It was found that they are compatible with all versions tested, without differences in the results. The tools are available for download in the website: http://www.brunopedroso.com.br/whoqol-hiv(en). html.

### **6. Conclusions**

Although the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments are respectively additional modules for WHOQOL-100 and WHOQOL-bref instruments, the syntax of these instruments are not entirely derivative from its precursor syntax. Despite the widespread distribution and use of the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref, the difficulty to interpret the instrument syntax limits in choosing to use such tools.

Additionally, the WHOQOL Group interposition in making the syntax to calculate the WHOQOL scores with SPSS (a relatively high cost software program and which requires specific expertise for use) encourages another imbroglio, restricting the use of WHOQOL instruments.

Facing this struggle, we here investigate the instruments in question to facilitate their interpretation and use. Looking for the removal of the previously described limitations, the syntaxes are transcribed textually, detailing all the steps used to obtain the results from WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instrument. Were also built tools from Microsoft Excel 2003 software to calculate the scores and descriptive statistics of such instruments, in which the researcher is responsible only for data tabulation. The calculation is carried out automatically.

The developed tools were tested and proved compatible in the versions 2000, XP, 2007 and 2010 of Microsoft Excel. The results returned by the tools were compared by using real application data of WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments, with the results returned by SPSS, following the parameters established by the WHOQOL-HIV Group. The results were identical to both instruments.

We conclude that, despite being globally disseminated instruments, developed under a rigorous methodology, the instruments produced by the WHOQOL-HIV Group show limitations. Expecting to facilitate its use, was made an approach with a focus on clarifying these instruments. In this wise, we aimed to enable greater accessibility of the results promoted by the instruments, object of study here, thus expanding the investigation involving QoL empirical reality of people living with HIV/AIDS.

## **7. References**

174 Global View of HIV Infection

The tools proposed on this study automatically perform all calculations in the incipient syntaxes provided by the WHOQOL-HIV Group. The researchers who use it need only to

After data insertion, to use the results of theirs research, researcher may copy the individual scores for each respondent, results of descriptive statistics, and graphics; however, without changing such results. Is allowed to insert and edit values just in the area to tabulate the

To validate such tools, simulations were performed with real data applications of each of the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instrument, comparing the results by using the proposed tools with those from SPSS. The results from both software programs were exactly

The tools were tested on different versions of the Microsoft Office: 2000, XP, 2003, 2007 and 2010. It was found that they are compatible with all versions tested, without differences in the results. The tools are available for download in the website:

Although the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments are respectively additional modules for WHOQOL-100 and WHOQOL-bref instruments, the syntax of these instruments are not entirely derivative from its precursor syntax. Despite the widespread distribution and use of the WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref, the difficulty to

Additionally, the WHOQOL Group interposition in making the syntax to calculate the WHOQOL scores with SPSS (a relatively high cost software program and which requires specific expertise for use) encourages another imbroglio, restricting the use of WHOQOL

Facing this struggle, we here investigate the instruments in question to facilitate their interpretation and use. Looking for the removal of the previously described limitations, the syntaxes are transcribed textually, detailing all the steps used to obtain the results from WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instrument. Were also built tools from Microsoft Excel 2003 software to calculate the scores and descriptive statistics of such instruments, in which the researcher is responsible only for data tabulation. The calculation is carried out

The developed tools were tested and proved compatible in the versions 2000, XP, 2007 and 2010 of Microsoft Excel. The results returned by the tools were compared by using real application data of WHOQOL-HIV and WHOQOL-HIV-bref instruments, with the results returned by SPSS, following the parameters established by the WHOQOL-HIV Group. The

We conclude that, despite being globally disseminated instruments, developed under a rigorous methodology, the instruments produced by the WHOQOL-HIV Group show limitations. Expecting to facilitate its use, was made an approach with a focus on clarifying these instruments. In this wise, we aimed to enable greater accessibility of the results promoted by the instruments, object of study here, thus expanding the investigation

the same, thus ensuring the reliability of tools, which are object of this study.

fill in the specified cells the answers given by respondents.

http://www.brunopedroso.com.br/whoqol-hiv(en). html.

interpret the instrument syntax limits in choosing to use such tools.

involving QoL empirical reality of people living with HIV/AIDS.

answers of respondents.

**6. Conclusions** 

instruments.

automatically.

results were identical to both instruments.


WHO Field Center for the Study of Quality of Life of Bath. (2008). About the WHO Field

Zimpel, R & Fleck, M.P.A. (2008). WHOQOL-HIV: desenvolvimento, aplicação e validação.

(Eds.), pp. 83-92. Artmed, ISBN 978-85-363-0947-7, Porto Alegre, Brazil

20.09.2008 Available from http://www.bath.ac.uk/whoqol/about.cfm Zimpel, R. & Fleck, M.P.A. (2007) Quality of life in HIV-positive Brazilians: application and

(August 2007), pp. 923-930, ISSN 0954-0121

Center for the Study of Quality of Life. In: *University of Bath*. Retrieved on

validation of the WHOQOL-HIV, Brazilian version. *AIDS Care*, Vol. 19, No 7,

In: *A avaliação de qualidade de vida: guia para profissionais da saúde*, Fleck, M.P.A., et al.

*Edited by Vishwanath Venketaraman*

Some of the topics covered in this book are: HIV infection, HIV transmission, Clinical symptoms of AIDS, AIDS and opportunistic infection, Prevention and treatment of HV, Treatment of HIV infection and immune reconstitution

Photo by xrender / iStock

Global View of HIV Infection

Global View of HIV Infection

*Edited by Vishwanath Venketaraman*