Using guided individualised feedback to review self-reported quality of life in health and its importance

Skevington, Suzanne M.; Llewellyn, Alison M.; Llewellyn, Alison; Skevington, Suzanne

Abstract

© 2014 Taylor & Francis. This pilot study investigated the effects of providing guided, individualised feedback on subjective quality of life (QoL), using results from the multidimensional WHOQOL-BREF profile. Participants (n=129; 85 chronically ill) were recruited in the community, and primary care. They were randomised to receive written or verbal guidance on interpreting a new graphical summary profile, which simultaneously presented (a) their individual self-ratings of QoL and (b) the importance attributed to each QoL dimension. Before and after feedback, participants completed health status, subjective QoL, QoL Importance, goal-oriented QoL and mood measures. Receiving individualised feedback was associated with increased psychological QoL, with modest effect size. No effects were found for physical, social or environmental QoL or QoL importance, health status, mood or goal-oriented QoL. There were no differences between modes of delivering guidance, indicating equal effectiveness. Chronic illness participants reported poorer QoL, moved more slowly towards their QoL goals, and had larger differences between core QoL and QoL Importance than healthy participants. Guided individualised empirical feedback about QoL judgements could be used to promote psychological well-being. Although professional interpretation of feedback is unnecessary, if shared, patients’ profiled WHOQOL information could support self-monitoring, self-management and clinical decision-making.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 29, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 30, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 15, 2016
• Journal: Psychology and Health
• Print ISSN: 0887-0446
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-8321
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 301-317
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2014.972396
• Keywords: quality of life, WHOQOL-BREF, health, feedback, well-being
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/843002
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2014.972396
• Contract Date: Mar 9, 2016