Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in HIV-Positive Individuals−Content Analyses of Measures Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and Generic and Disability Core Set

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to conduct a content analysis of the items of the Medical Outcome Study−HIV (MOS-HIV), the Multidimentional Quality of Life−HIV (MQOL-HIV), and the HIV Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) by linking these to the ICF and its generic and disability core set. Methods: Four raters individually linked 145 items from the measures based on standardized linking rules. Interrater agreement was determined. For items where there was no agreement among raters, the opinion of a fifth rater, an expert in applying the ICF, was obtained. Results: The items were linked to 74 ICF categories across the three measures. Final interrater agreement was 83.3%. The content of all three measures was highly linkable with ICF. The HDQ had the best representation among the three measures. The HDQ had 27 items linked with the generic and disability core set; of these 16 items were linked with disability codes. Discussion: The HDQ provides a more precise description of the disablement experienced by people living with HIV by addressing the body function, activities, participation, and environmental factors specific to people living with HIV. The HDQ is thus recommended for those who are interested in measuring HIV-specific disabilities more precisely.