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The development and testing of the well-being index for surgical patients(WISP)

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Abstract

The development and testing of the Well-being Index for Surgical Patients (WISP), an instrument designed to assess the well-being of patients between 1 and 4 months after abdominal surgery, is described. The measure was intended for use in a study of the effectiveness of a dietary supplement for patients undergoing such surgery. Interviews were conducted with 15 patients who had had abdominal operations between 1 and 4 months previously. They provided information about their well-being at the time of their interview and also during the period since they had been discharged from hospital. A draft questionnaire was derived from the interviews and field tested with a further 17 patients who found the content to be relevant and the questionnaire easy to complete. A further 44 patients completed the measure on three occasions; 1, 2 and 4 months after abdominal surgery. The instrument was shown to have good internal consistency and produced statistically significant improvements in well-being over time. A postal survey with 20 patients indicated that the instrument's test-retest reliability was adequate. The WISP is acceptable to patients and easy to administer, making it suitable for inclusion in clinical trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Galen Research, Manchester, UK

    S. P McKenna, L. C Doward & D Whalley

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  1. S. P McKenna
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  2. L. C Doward
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  3. D Whalley
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McKenna, S.P., Doward, L.C. & Whalley, D. The development and testing of the well-being index for surgical patients(WISP). Qual Life Res 7, 167–173 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008861627541

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