Development of WHOQOL spirituality, religiousness and personal beliefs module

Authors

  • Marcelo Pio da Almeida Fleck Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Psiquiatria e Medicina Legal
  • Zulmira Newlands Borges Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Departamento de Sociologia
  • Gustavo Bolognesi Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Psiquiatria e Medicina Legal
  • Neusa Sica da Rocha Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Psiquiatria e Medicina Legal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102003000400009

Keywords:

Mental health, Religion and medicine, Spirituality, Quality of life, Focus groups, Perception

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the development of the "spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs" for the WHOQOL-SRBP instrument, and to report the main findings of research conducted with focus groups composed of subjects representative of the most common religious practices, patients, and healthcare professionals. METHODS: The several stages of the development of the WHOQOL-SRBP instrument are described: literature review, focus groups, elaboration of national questions, elaboration of consensual items, pilot-study development, pilot-study application, question performance analysis, development of the definitive instrument, and field testing. The focus group stage was conducted in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, and included 15 groups (n=142). These included separate groups for healthcare professionals, acute, chronic, and terminal patients, religious groups (Catholics, Evangelicals, Afro-Brazilians, and Spiritualists), and atheists. Each group discussed facets suggested by a group of "experts", as well as any further dimensions spontaneously raised by group participants. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The focus group technique proved itself adequate for the collection of different opinions from the participants, allowing for the testing of the hypotheses proposed by the researchers, redirecting and/or broadening previously established concepts. In addition, it highlighted the importance of the discussion of the spiritual dimension for patient's lives.

Published

2003-08-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Fleck, M. P. da A., Borges, Z. N., Bolognesi, G., & Rocha, N. S. da. (2003). Development of WHOQOL spirituality, religiousness and personal beliefs module . Revista De Saúde Pública, 37(4), 446-455. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102003000400009