Scale-Description

The QWB is a multidimensional scale that assesses an individual’s quality of life, considering not only physical health but also social and mental well-being. This scale includes questions related to:

Physical Functioning: The level of mobility, self-care, and autonomy.

Symptoms and Health Problems: The presence and severity of physical symptoms, such as pain or discomfort.

Social Activities: The individual’s ability to participate in social and professional activities.

The responses are used to calculate a total score that represents the individual’s quality of well-being on a scale from 0 (worst health/well-being) to 1 (perfect health/well-being).

Data Analysis and Usage

The data from the QWB can be used to assess changes in individuals’ well-being over time or in response to interventions, such as medical treatments or prevention programs. Data analyses include:

Descriptive statistics to determine the average well-being of a population or group.

Correlation analysis to examine the relationship between quality of life and other variables, such as disease severity or socioeconomic factors.

Intervention studies to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment or program on quality of life.

The results from the QWB can also be used for economic evaluation in healthcare, as they allow the calculation of QALYs (Quality-Adjusted Life Years) to estimate the benefits of different medical interventions.

Purpose

The primary goal of the Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB) is to provide a comprehensive measure of well-being that accounts for an individual’s health, functionality, and social activity. This scale:

Helps researchers and healthcare professionals assess the impact of diseases or treatments on daily life and quality of life.

Enhances understanding of patients’ needs and priorities in healthcare delivery.

Is used to compare the effectiveness of different treatments and healthcare approaches.

Calibration

The calibration of the QWB scale is carried out using standardized psychometric methods:

Reliability analysis to assess the consistency of responses, ensuring that the scale accurately measures well-being.

Validity analysis to confirm that the scale measures quality of life based on patients’ real experiences.

Cross-validation with different populations to ensure that the scale is appropriate for various groups of individuals.

Bibliography

Kaplan, R. M., & Anderson, J. P. (1988). The general health policy model: An integrated approach. In S. R. Walker & R. M. Rosser (Eds.), Quality of life: Assessment and application (pp. 75-92). MTP Press.

Kaplan, R. M., Bush, J. W., & Berry, C. C. (1976). Health status: Types of validity and the index of well-being. Health Services Research, 11(4), 478-507.

Anderson, J. P., Kaplan, R. M., Berry, C. C., Bush, J. W., & Rumbaut, R. G. (1989). Interday reliability of function assessment for a health status measure. Quality of Life Research, 9(1), 3-12.