Measuring health-related quality of life in university students: a systematic scoping review with evidence gap map protocol

Measuring health-related quality of life in university students: a systematic scoping review with evidence gap map protocol | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Measuring health-related quality of life in university students: a systematic scoping review with evidence gap map protocol Marcelo Couto Jorge Rodrigues, Augusto Cezar Rodrigues Rocha, and 9 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Mar, 2025 Read the published version in Systematic Reviews → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Understanding university students' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can help propose strategies that support targeted care for this population and identify issues affecting these individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the commonly used instruments and possible study designs for the university population, enabling the standardization of interventions and instruments to evaluate the HRQoL of university students. We aim to c onduct a systematic scoping review to identify th e main measurement instruments and key characteristics in studies using HRQoL measures among university students. It is also aimed to create an evidence gap map to characterize the main instruments being used with this population, the design of the study, the age and gender of participants, the study language, the type of responses, and the impact factor of the journals to identify foundations for guiding future research priorities. Methods This review will consider original peer-reviewed articles that used any generic HRQoL measurement instruments exclusively used with university students aged 18–59. Validation, qualitative, language translation, or adaptation studies will be excluded. This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The research will be conducted in five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus). Two reviewers will independently screen records using predefined eligibility criteria and extract data using tables. The extracted data will include specific details about the title, authors, year of publication, HRQoL instrument utilized, participants, intervention design, and critical findings. The results will be presented in a narrative summary with data displayed in tabular and diagrammatic formats. Discussion This proposed systematic scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing methods for assessing health-related quality of life in university students. The results will help identify gaps in the literature and establish a foundation for guiding future research priorities. Systematic review registration Registration with Open Science Framework can be found under registration number 10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU College instruments HRQoL scale questionnaire adults Figures Figure 1 Background The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life as "an individual's perception of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live, and about their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns." 1 . This definition of quality of life given by the WHO (1995) is not limited solely to the concept of health 2 , as it refers to general well-being that encompasses the objectives and assessments of an individual's physical, material, social, and emotional state, along with the extent of personal development based on a set of personal values 3 . In this context, the term that explicitly expresses the quality of life in the health domain is referred to as HRQoL, which denotes an individual's perception of their health in terms of functioning and well-being, influenced by the physical, psychological, and social demands of health 2 , 4 , 5 . Health-related quality of life is a multidimensional construct classified as a Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO), utilized in clinical trials and epidemiological research, with its information being used as markers for public policies 6 . In clinical trials, PROs represent patients' responses to interventions or settings, and their outcomes are measured in absolute terms to evaluate, for example, the efficacy of an intervention and its benefits to patients compared to another, without the interpretation of the response by a clinician 7 . On a larger scale, PROs can track health issues, compare outcomes, and assess the need for care among populations 8 . Given the above, HRQoL is influenced by the immediate effects and long-term consequences of a particular treatment or the context in which the individual is situated 4 . Specifically in higher education, integration into the university environment is considered critical for establishing health-related behaviors that promote well-being throughout adulthood 9 . This stage of life contributes to changes in habits and behaviors that can directly impact individuals' quality of life 10 , 11 . However, Vaez et al. 12 found that the quality of life of university students is lower than that of non-university peers of the same age, a finding that suggests the university population may be more vulnerable to physical, mental, and social health issues 13 , 14 . Stressors in the university context, such as academic demands, prolonged sitting, and unhealthy lifestyles, contribute to this vulnerability 15 , 16 . These factors highlight that a significant portion of university students fail to meet the recommended levels of weekly physical activity 17 , accumulating high levels of sedentary behavior 18 , which also negatively impacts mental health 19 . Additionally, factors such as social isolation and a lack of sense of belonging are present, leading to impairments in the social and mental health of these individuals 20 . According to the study by Auerbach et al. 21 , one in five university students experiences some mental disorder classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), with an increase in the prevalence of mental health issues within this population 22 . Given this context, understanding the HRQoL of university students can aid in proposing strategies to improve treatment and care for this population and identify problems that may affect these individuals 23 . However, to understand the HRQoL of university students, it is necessary to use a PRO that allows for the assessment of various HRQoL domains in this population 24 . Among these, the WHOQOL-BREF 25 , SF-36 26 , and EQ-5D 27 are the generic instruments commonly used to assess HRQoL 28 . Despite their similarities, these instruments do not measure the same concepts and domains, possessing specific features to assess the subjectivity and multidimensionality that the concept of quality of life encompasses, such as specific aspects of mental, physical, and social health 29 , 30 . Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, there is a current need to identify commonly used and valid instruments and, as possible, study designs for the university population, enabling the standardization or adaptation of interventions and instruments aimed at evaluating the HRQoL of university students. This population is particularly sensitive to developing psychiatric disorders and experiencing a decline in quality of life. Thus, the present research examines how HRQoL is being assessed in the university population. We seek to analyze the main instruments used in HRQoL research within this population, highlight the primary research designs, and identify study gaps. Based on the results, we will create an evidence gap map to identify foundations for guiding future research priorities to analyze HRQoL in the university population. Methods To analyze the emerging evidence regarding the HRQoL of university students, we propose conducting this systematic scoping review with an evidence gap map. A scoping review maps and examines the extent of relevant literature in the researcher's area of interest 31 . According to Munn et al. 32 , a scoping review should be used to identify the types of evidence available in a given field, clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature, examine how research is conducted on a particular topic or in a specific field, identify the main characteristics or factors related to the subject, serve as a precursor to a systematic review, and identify and analyze research gaps. Therefore, the scoping review was the most appropriate method to address our research question, formulated using the mnemonic strategy Population/Concept/Context (PCC), which is: How health-related quality of life (C) is being assessed in university (C) students (P)? Protocol and registration The proposed scoping review will be written and guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) 33 checklist (S1 File). This scoping review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework Register DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU . Eligibility criteria To be included in the review, the following eligibility criteria will be required for articles: 1) studies must measure health-related quality of life; 2) studies must report the health-related quality of life instrument used; 3) the sample must consist of university students over 18 years old; 4) original peer-reviewed articles. Studies will be excluded if: 1) they used a qualitative approach; 2) they used a specific quality of life instrument; 3) they are validation, translation, or language adaptation studies; 4) they include participants over 60 years old. Information sources and search The research will be conducted across five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus). Searches will not be restricted by date. The reference lists of eligible literature reviews will be scrutinized to enhance the likelihood of identifying eligible studies 34 . An initial limited PubMed search was conducted to identify articles on the topic (Table 1 ). The text words found in the titles and abstracts of relevant articles and the index terms used to describe the articles were utilized to formulate a comprehensive search strategy for PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus. The search strategy, encompassing all identified keywords and index terms, will be tailored for each included information source. Table 1 Search strategy for PubMed Search Query Records retrieved #1 “quality of life”[MeSH Terms] OR “health-related quality of life”[tiab] OR “health related quality of life”[tiab] OR “HRQOL”[tiab] OR “life quality”[tiab] 312,681 #2 "university student*"[tiab] OR "college student*"[tiab] 51,741 #3 "measure*"[Title/Abstract] OR "scale"[Title/Abstract] OR "instrument*"[Title/Abstract] OR "questionnaire*"[Title/Abstract] OR "score*"[Title/Abstract] 6,153,478 #4 “Adolescent*”[tiab] OR “teen*[tiab] 371,172 #5 “humans”[Filter] 22,957,049 #6 #1 AND #2 NOT #4 AND #3 AND #5 536 Search conducted on June 14, 2024, with no language limits. Selection of sources of evidence The search results will be exported to the reference management software Rayyan (Qatar Computing Research Institute, QCRI), and two authors will remove duplicates (MR and AR). Following James et al. (2022), prior to title and abstract screening, a pilot sample of 60 articles (two sets of 30) will be selected for three reviewers (MC, AR, GC) using Microsoft Excel. Once inter-rater agreement reaches 80% 36 , two authors (MR and AR) will independently screen the titles and abstracts of all eligible studies, resolving discrepancies through discussion until consensus is reached. If needed, a third author (GC) will be consulted for final decision-making. Following title and abstract screening, two researchers (MR and AR) will review the full-text articles for inclusion in the review. Again, in cases of disagreement, resolution will be achieved through discussion with the third author (GC). The search results will be fully reported in the scoping review and presented in a PRISMA-ScR 37 flow diagram (Fig. 1). Figure 1. A flow diagram model, based on the schematic overview of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews, will be used in the scoping review. Data charting process and data items A spreadsheet for data extraction from studies included in the research has been developed (S2 File). The extracted data will include: 1) bibliographic information: title, author, year of publication, journal, and 5-year impact factor in Web of Science (WOS); 2) article details: study objective, sample size, their gender and age, study design, variables analyzed, and main findings, publication language, funding; 3) characteristics of the HRQoL instruments: instrument name, number of items and whether they were all used, domains covered, frequency of instrument use if used an online or face-to-face response, validated instrument, and validated translation. Two authors will compare the extracted data (MR and AR), and any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. In cases where any of the aforementioned information is unclear, we will contact the authors of the respective study to obtain further details. Synthesis of results The extracted data will be presented diagrammatically or in tables aligned with the aim of this scoping review. Additionally, selected studies will be presented in a narrative summary accompanied by graphic results to elucidate the extent and nature of the studies for each extracted datum 38 . The data will be grouped into topics like Afonso’s scoping review 39 . The first topic will be Study Selection, with the total identified studies, records screening, and retrieval; the second one will be Publication-level Information, with publication dates, publication language, geographical location, funding, and design of the studies; the third topic will be Participant-Related Characteristics with sample size, sex, and age of university students in included studies; the fourth topic will be Characteristics of HRQoL instruments with instrument name, number of items, if utilizes online or presential version and there is a validated translation of instrument in the studies. Moreover, literature gaps will be identified, and implications for future studies will be suggested based on these gaps. To offer a summary of the current body of research and identify gaps, an Evidence Gap Map (EGM) will be created. Briefly, EGM aims to visually display the available evidence and highlight areas lacking research. In this map, circles will represent the number of trials and the domain of outcomes explored, with their sizes proportional to the quantity of evidence within each cell. As a scoping review does not require critical appraisal due to its exploratory nature 33 , such evaluation will not be conducted. Discussion This proposed systematic scoping review aimed to respond to how HRQoL is being assessed in studies conducted with university students. To the best of our knowledge, this study will be the precursor of its nature conducted so far. The strengths of this review encompass the systematic process of searching, screening, reviewing studies, and extracting data following a standardized guidance checklist. Therefore, our eligibility criteria and sources of search will be broad enough to allow the expectation to include a large number of studies to respond to this question appropriately and identify the gaps existing in the scientific literature related to HRQoL in universities. Consequently, the results from this review will provide the prevalence of identifying foundations for guiding future research priorities. For limitations, since a scoping review does not require critical appraisal due to its exploratory nature, such evaluation will not be conducted; however, to minimize this problem, the 5-year impact factor of the study journals will be analyzed and discussed in this study. Abbreviations EGM Evidence Gap Map EQ-5D EuroQol 5 dimension HRQoL Health-related quality of life PRISMA-ScR Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews PRO Patient-Reported Outcome SF-36 Short-Form 36 WHO World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF WOS Web of Science Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethics approval is not required for a systematic review of publicly available literature. Consent for publication This study uses secondary (published) data; as such, consent will not be required. Availability of data and materials The generated and analyzed data in this research will constitute the scoping review article. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. Authors' contributions All authors contributed equally to this work. Therefore, MR, AR, CC, FC, MN, AF, CL, KW, TR, BK, and GC conceptualized the project, drafted the protocol, registered it, contributed to its development, and critically read and gave final comments. Acknowledgments We thank the IF Goiano for their support. References WHOQOL GROUP. The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL). Position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41:1403–9. Karimi M, Brazier J, Health. Health-Related Quality of Life, and Quality of Life: What is the Difference? PharmacoEconomics. 2016;34:645–9. Felce D, Perry J. Quality of Life: Its Definition and Measurement. Pergamon Res Dev Disabil. 1995;16:51–74. Marcia A, Donald C. Assessment of Quality-of-Life Outcomes. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:835–40. Kaplan RM, Hays RD. Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement in Public Health Keywords. Annu Rev Public Health. 2022;43:355–73. 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Int J Social Res Methodology: Theory Pract. 2005;8:19–32. Munn Z, Peters MDJ, Stern C et al. Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol ; 18. Epub ahead of print 19 November 2018. 10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, et al. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169:467–73. Horsley T, Dingwall O, Sampson M. Checking reference lists to find additional studies for systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews ; 2011. Epub ahead of print 10 August 2011. 10.1002/14651858.MR000026.pub2 James KA, Cadel L, Hitzig SL, et al. Patient-reported outcome measures for medication-related quality of life: A scoping review. Res Social Administrative Pharm. 2022;18:3501–23. McHugh ML. Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2012;22:276–82. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ ; 372. Epub ahead of print 2021. 10.1136/bmj.n71 Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology , http://www.cihr-irsc.ca (2010). Afonso J, Andrade R, Rocha-Rodrigues S, et al. What We Do Not Know About Stretching in Healthy Athletes: A Scoping Review with Evidence Gap Map from 300 Trials. Sports Med. 2024;54:1517–51. Supplementary Files S1ChecklistMarcelo.docx S1 File. PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for the Scoping Reviews) checklist. S2DataextractionBMC.xlsx S2 File. Excel data extraction form. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Mar, 2025 Read the published version in Systematic Reviews → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Minor revision 17 Jan, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Dec, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Dec, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 05 Dec, 2024 First submitted to journal 03 Dec, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5550846","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":392417631,"identity":"fbec567c-6ac5-4c7f-b138-bca4aeb8ea46","order_by":0,"name":"Marcelo Couto Jorge Rodrigues","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade Federal de Goiás: Universidade Federal de Goias","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marcelo","middleName":"Couto Jorge","lastName":"Rodrigues","suffix":""},{"id":392417632,"identity":"cf5863d6-fc7a-4b80-9e83-f7a66eaade44","order_by":1,"name":"Augusto Cezar Rodrigues Rocha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade Federal de Goiás: Universidade Federal de Goias","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Augusto","middleName":"Cezar Rodrigues","lastName":"Rocha","suffix":""},{"id":392417633,"identity":"d86171d2-d906-4e52-8a55-86f051eeeb1b","order_by":2,"name":"Crislaine Rangel Couto","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Crislaine","middleName":"Rangel","lastName":"Couto","suffix":""},{"id":392417634,"identity":"825b5c78-ad57-4cde-8716-72305748b02c","order_by":3,"name":"Filipe Manuel Clemente","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo: Instituto Politecnico de Viana do Castelo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Filipe","middleName":"Manuel","lastName":"Clemente","suffix":""},{"id":392417635,"identity":"0515d866-3d55-4d55-8895-2d3d5aec7587","order_by":4,"name":"Matias Noll","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Ceres","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Matias","middleName":"","lastName":"Noll","suffix":""},{"id":392417636,"identity":"13489a8e-c869-4f88-a517-4592b5ff7eff","order_by":5,"name":"Auro Barreiros Freire","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Instituto Federal de Educacao Ciencia e Tecnologia Minas Gerais","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Auro","middleName":"Barreiros","lastName":"Freire","suffix":""},{"id":392417637,"identity":"e2ff2ec8-26dc-46bc-89ce-13c023311b2b","order_by":6,"name":"Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade Federal de Goiás: Universidade Federal de Goias","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Claudio","middleName":"Andre Barbosa","lastName":"de Lira","suffix":""},{"id":392417638,"identity":"275e1c4c-2013-41e8-982b-fe3fa01cb83e","order_by":7,"name":"Katja Weiss","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University Hospital Zurich: UniversitatsSpital Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Katja","middleName":"","lastName":"Weiss","suffix":""},{"id":392417639,"identity":"a50547c6-0b12-4bae-98d6-aa4b4c4fc5ed","order_by":8,"name":"Thomas Rosemann","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University Hospital Zurich: UniversitatsSpital Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Thomas","middleName":"","lastName":"Rosemann","suffix":""},{"id":392417640,"identity":"847d333d-2053-45c2-9a13-d1cdf484d917","order_by":9,"name":"Beat Knechte","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universitat St Gallen","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Beat","middleName":"","lastName":"Knechte","suffix":""},{"id":392417641,"identity":"f58dab26-6fa3-4cf9-99e0-3bdbf885963b","order_by":10,"name":"Gustavo De Conti Teixeira Costa","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAArUlEQVRIie3LIQ7CMBQA0E+arKZhtgqu8Bcsh/kzzLBkuMmpzQw/btEDIJYsKaYh3IAtJHgcDpDIX0dCn38AQfCrCNcLED0IbphVVG5WEJFPATekFbvEzf40TrXIjJUXsTsyinbntErrKDdWFaK7MwrqbfIpKjfXloTq+UVnaJVPIYeEVva8op1LOiopOVgFQ8cpcdPi44mv5dzK6VZwyheFngFAjr4jCILgT7wBi4Y5OZ0KNKwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0911-8753","institution":"Universidade Federal de Goiás: Universidade Federal de Goias","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gustavo","middleName":"De Conti Teixeira","lastName":"Costa","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-11-29 17:46:13","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02787-2","type":"published","date":"2025-03-15T15:58:54+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":72337589,"identity":"9bb156dd-a80b-4df3-81c5-aabff6b1af34","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-25 16:05:29","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":29165,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA flow diagram model, based on the schematic overview of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews, will be used in the scoping review.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5550846/v1/0c699a6b1060e1ea6c738918.png"},{"id":78689125,"identity":"1ac0c026-cb8c-4527-96fc-4e516a20865e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 16:11:35","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":780242,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5550846/v1/9b510bfe-9642-4226-b13d-7be2998284a1.pdf"},{"id":72337598,"identity":"c7f597e9-5564-45e2-aabe-9b874ab3df1e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-25 16:05:29","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":86461,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS1 File. PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for the Scoping Reviews) checklist.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"S1ChecklistMarcelo.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5550846/v1/89f18d342ae352d0c66df6c5.docx"},{"id":72337590,"identity":"9b2edd9a-c5f5-4e99-9180-f2d9774b418d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-25 16:05:29","extension":"xlsx","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":9550,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS2 File. Excel data extraction form.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"S2DataextractionBMC.xlsx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5550846/v1/25304ea7d3eb966ddf3a08dc.xlsx"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Measuring health-related quality of life in university students: a systematic scoping review with evidence gap map protocol","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life as \"an individual's perception of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live, and about their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.\"\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This definition of quality of life given by the WHO (1995) is not limited solely to the concept of health\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, as it refers to general well-being that encompasses the objectives and assessments of an individual's physical, material, social, and emotional state, along with the extent of personal development based on a set of personal values\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In this context, the term that explicitly expresses the quality of life in the health domain is referred to as HRQoL, which denotes an individual's perception of their health in terms of functioning and well-being, influenced by the physical, psychological, and social demands of health\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealth-related quality of life is a multidimensional construct classified as a Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO), utilized in clinical trials and epidemiological research, with its information being used as markers for public policies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In clinical trials, PROs represent patients' responses to interventions or settings, and their outcomes are measured in absolute terms to evaluate, for example, the efficacy of an intervention and its benefits to patients compared to another, without the interpretation of the response by a clinician\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. On a larger scale, PROs can track health issues, compare outcomes, and assess the need for care among populations\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Given the above, HRQoL is influenced by the immediate effects and long-term consequences of a particular treatment or the context in which the individual is situated\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecifically in higher education, integration into the university environment is considered critical for establishing health-related behaviors that promote well-being throughout adulthood\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This stage of life contributes to changes in habits and behaviors that can directly impact individuals' quality of life\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, Vaez et al.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e found that the quality of life of university students is lower than that of non-university peers of the same age, a finding that suggests the university population may be more vulnerable to physical, mental, and social health issues\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Stressors in the university context, such as academic demands, prolonged sitting, and unhealthy lifestyles, contribute to this vulnerability\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These factors highlight that a significant portion of university students fail to meet the recommended levels of weekly physical activity\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, accumulating high levels of sedentary behavior\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, which also negatively impacts mental health\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, factors such as social isolation and a lack of sense of belonging are present, leading to impairments in the social and mental health of these individuals \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. According to the study by Auerbach et al.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, one in five university students experiences some mental disorder classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), with an increase in the prevalence of mental health issues within this population\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiven this context, understanding the HRQoL of university students can aid in proposing strategies to improve treatment and care for this population and identify problems that may affect these individuals\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, to understand the HRQoL of university students, it is necessary to use a PRO that allows for the assessment of various HRQoL domains in this population\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Among these, the WHOQOL-BREF\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, SF-36\u003csup\u003e26\u003c/sup\u003e, and EQ-5D\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e are the generic instruments commonly used to assess HRQoL\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Despite their similarities, these instruments do not measure the same concepts and domains, possessing specific features to assess the subjectivity and multidimensionality that the concept of quality of life encompasses, such as specific aspects of mental, physical, and social health\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, there is a current need to identify commonly used and valid instruments and, as possible, study designs for the university population, enabling the standardization or adaptation of interventions and instruments aimed at evaluating the HRQoL of university students. This population is particularly sensitive to developing psychiatric disorders and experiencing a decline in quality of life. Thus, the present research examines how HRQoL is being assessed in the university population. We seek to analyze the main instruments used in HRQoL research within this population, highlight the primary research designs, and identify study gaps. Based on the results, we will create an evidence gap map to identify foundations for guiding future research priorities to analyze HRQoL in the university population.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eTo analyze the emerging evidence regarding the HRQoL of university students, we propose conducting this systematic scoping review with an evidence gap map. A scoping review maps and examines the extent of relevant literature in the researcher's area of interest\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. According to Munn et al.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, a scoping review should be used to identify the types of evidence available in a given field, clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature, examine how research is conducted on a particular topic or in a specific field, identify the main characteristics or factors related to the subject, serve as a precursor to a systematic review, and identify and analyze research gaps. Therefore, the scoping review was the most appropriate method to address our research question, formulated using the mnemonic strategy Population/Concept/Context (PCC), which is: How health-related quality of life (C) is being assessed in university (C) students (P)?\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eProtocol and registration\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe proposed scoping review will be written and guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e checklist (S1 File). This scoping review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework Register DOI: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEligibility criteria\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo be included in the review, the following eligibility criteria will be required for articles: 1) studies must measure health-related quality of life; 2) studies must report the health-related quality of life instrument used; 3) the sample must consist of university students over 18 years old; 4) original peer-reviewed articles. Studies will be excluded if: 1) they used a qualitative approach; 2) they used a specific quality of life instrument; 3) they are validation, translation, or language adaptation studies; 4) they include participants over 60 years old.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInformation sources and search\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research will be conducted across five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus). Searches will not be restricted by date. The reference lists of eligible literature reviews will be scrutinized to enhance the likelihood of identifying eligible studies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. An initial limited PubMed search was conducted to identify articles on the topic (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The text words found in the titles and abstracts of relevant articles and the index terms used to describe the articles were utilized to formulate a comprehensive search strategy for PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus. The search strategy, encompassing all identified keywords and index terms, will be tailored for each included information source.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSearch strategy for PubMed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSearch\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuery\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecords retrieved\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;quality of life\u0026rdquo;[MeSH Terms] OR \u0026ldquo;health-related quality of life\u0026rdquo;[tiab] OR \u0026ldquo;health related quality of life\u0026rdquo;[tiab] OR \u0026ldquo;HRQOL\u0026rdquo;[tiab] OR \u0026ldquo;life quality\u0026rdquo;[tiab]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e312,681\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"university student*\"[tiab] OR \"college student*\"[tiab]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51,741\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"measure*\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"scale\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"instrument*\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"questionnaire*\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"score*\"[Title/Abstract]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6,153,478\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Adolescent*\u0026rdquo;[tiab] OR \u0026ldquo;teen*[tiab]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e371,172\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;humans\u0026rdquo;[Filter]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22,957,049\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e#1 AND #2 NOT #4 AND #3 AND #5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e536\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSearch conducted on June 14, 2024, with no language limits.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSelection of sources of evidence\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe search results will be exported to the reference management software Rayyan (Qatar Computing Research Institute, QCRI), and two authors will remove duplicates (MR and AR). Following James et al. (2022), prior to title and abstract screening, a pilot sample of 60 articles (two sets of 30) will be selected for three reviewers (MC, AR, GC) using Microsoft Excel. Once inter-rater agreement reaches 80%\u003csup\u003e36\u003c/sup\u003e, two authors (MR and AR) will independently screen the titles and abstracts of all eligible studies, resolving discrepancies through discussion until consensus is reached. If needed, a third author (GC) will be consulted for final decision-making. Following title and abstract screening, two researchers (MR and AR) will review the full-text articles for inclusion in the review. Again, in cases of disagreement, resolution will be achieved through discussion with the third author (GC). The search results will be fully reported in the scoping review and presented in a PRISMA-ScR\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e flow diagram (Fig.\u0026nbsp;1).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFigure\u0026nbsp;1. A flow diagram model, based on the schematic overview of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews, will be used in the scoping review.\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData charting process and data items\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA spreadsheet for data extraction from studies included in the research has been developed (S2 File). The extracted data will include: 1) bibliographic information: title, author, year of publication, journal, and 5-year impact factor in Web of Science (WOS); 2) article details: study objective, sample size, their gender and age, study design, variables analyzed, and main findings, publication language, funding; 3) characteristics of the HRQoL instruments: instrument name, number of items and whether they were all used, domains covered, frequency of instrument use if used an online or face-to-face response, validated instrument, and validated translation. Two authors will compare the extracted data (MR and AR), and any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. In cases where any of the aforementioned information is unclear, we will contact the authors of the respective study to obtain further details.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSynthesis of results\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe extracted data will be presented diagrammatically or in tables aligned with the aim of this scoping review. Additionally, selected studies will be presented in a narrative summary accompanied by graphic results to elucidate the extent and nature of the studies for each extracted datum\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The data will be grouped into topics like Afonso\u0026rsquo;s scoping review\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The first topic will be Study Selection, with the total identified studies, records screening, and retrieval; the second one will be Publication-level Information, with publication dates, publication language, geographical location, funding, and design of the studies; the third topic will be Participant-Related Characteristics with sample size, sex, and age of university students in included studies; the fourth topic will be Characteristics of HRQoL instruments with instrument name, number of items, if utilizes online or presential version and there is a validated translation of instrument in the studies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, literature gaps will be identified, and implications for future studies will be suggested based on these gaps. To offer a summary of the current body of research and identify gaps, an Evidence Gap Map (EGM) will be created. Briefly, EGM aims to visually display the available evidence and highlight areas lacking research. In this map, circles will represent the number of trials and the domain of outcomes explored, with their sizes proportional to the quantity of evidence within each cell. As a scoping review does not require critical appraisal due to its exploratory nature\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, such evaluation will not be conducted.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis proposed systematic scoping review aimed to respond to how HRQoL is being assessed in studies conducted with university students. To the best of our knowledge, this study will be the precursor of its nature conducted so far. The strengths of this review encompass the systematic process of searching, screening, reviewing studies, and extracting data following a standardized guidance checklist. Therefore, our eligibility criteria and sources of search will be broad enough to allow the expectation to include a large number of studies to respond to this question appropriately and identify the gaps existing in the scientific literature related to HRQoL in universities. Consequently, the results from this review will provide the prevalence of identifying foundations for guiding future research priorities. For limitations, since a scoping review does not require critical appraisal due to its exploratory nature, such evaluation will not be conducted; however, to minimize this problem, the 5-year impact factor of the study journals will be analyzed and discussed in this study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionList\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEGM\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvidence Gap Map\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEQ-5D\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuroQol 5 dimension\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHRQoL\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealth-related quality of life\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRISMA-ScR\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRO\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePatient-Reported Outcome\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSF-36\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eShort-Form 36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWHO\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorld Health Organization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWHOQOL-BREF\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorld Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWOS\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeb of Science\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthics approval is not required for a systematic review of publicly available literature.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study uses secondary (published) data; as such, consent will not be required.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe generated and analyzed data in this research will constitute the scoping review article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was financed in part by the Coordena\u0026ccedil;\u0026atilde;o de Aperfei\u0026ccedil;oamento de Pessoal de N\u0026iacute;vel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors contributed equally to this work. Therefore, MR, AR, CC, FC, MN, AF, CL, KW, TR, BK, and GC conceptualized the project, drafted the protocol, registered it, contributed to its development, and critically read and gave final comments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe thank the \u003cem\u003eIF Goiano\u003c/em\u003e for their support.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWHOQOL GROUP. The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL). Position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41:1403\u0026ndash;9.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKarimi M, Brazier J, Health. Health-Related Quality of Life, and Quality of Life: What is the Difference? PharmacoEconomics. 2016;34:645\u0026ndash;9.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFelce D, Perry J. Quality of Life: Its Definition and Measurement. 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Sports Med. 2024;54:1517\u0026ndash;51.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"systematic-reviews","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"sysr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Systematic Reviews](http://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/sysr/default.aspx","title":"Systematic Reviews","twitterHandle":"@MedicalEvidence","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"College, instruments, HRQoL, scale, questionnaire, adults","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnderstanding university students' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can help propose strategies that support targeted care for this population and identify issues affecting these individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the commonly used instruments and possible study designs for the university population, enabling the standardization of interventions and instruments to evaluate the HRQoL of university students. We aim to \u003cb\u003ec\u003c/b\u003eonduct a systematic scoping review to identify th\u003cb\u003ee\u003c/b\u003e main measurement instruments and key characteristics in studies using HRQoL measures among university students. It is also aimed to create an evidence gap map to characterize the main instruments being used with this population, the design of the study, the age and gender of participants, the study language, the type of responses, and the impact factor of the journals to identify foundations for guiding future research priorities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis review will consider original peer-reviewed articles that used any generic HRQoL measurement instruments exclusively used with university students aged 18\u0026ndash;59. Validation, qualitative, language translation, or adaptation studies will be excluded. This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The research will be conducted in five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus). Two reviewers will independently screen records using predefined eligibility criteria and extract data using tables. The extracted data will include specific details about the title, authors, year of publication, HRQoL instrument utilized, participants, intervention design, and critical findings. The results will be presented in a narrative summary with data displayed in tabular and diagrammatic formats.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiscussion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis proposed systematic scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing methods for assessing health-related quality of life in university students. The results will help identify gaps in the literature and establish a foundation for guiding future research priorities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSystematic review registration\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegistration with Open Science Framework can be found under registration number \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.17605/OSF.IO/FY9GU\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Measuring health-related quality of life in university students: a systematic scoping review with evidence gap map protocol","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-12-25 16:05:24","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5550846/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Minor revision","date":"2025-01-17T05:23:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2024-12-19T17:01:59+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-12-19T14:18:58+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-12-06T01:16:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Systematic Reviews","date":"2024-12-03T12:53:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"systematic-reviews","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"sysr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Systematic Reviews](http://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/sysr/default.aspx","title":"Systematic Reviews","twitterHandle":"@MedicalEvidence","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e3bb904d-4f64-496d-bd02-b34f96f5577e","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 25th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-03-17T16:06:24+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5550846","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02787-2","journal":{"identity":"systematic-reviews","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Systematic Reviews"},"publishedOn":"2025-03-15 15:58:54","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 15th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-12-25 16:05:24","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s13643-025-02787-2","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02787-2","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5550846","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5550846","identity":"rs-5550846","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}