Quality of Well Being (QWB) is a preference measure that was designed to measure health related quality of life (Andressen et al. 1999).  It was developed based on theory from the General Health Policy Model which incorporates the concepts of mortality, morbidity, the preference of an individual for a certain health state and the duration in that particular health state.  The QWB self-administered (QWB-SA) version combines three scales (mobility; physical activity and social activity) with a measure of symptoms/problems. This version contains slightly different content and the recall period was decreased from six days to three days to reduce recall bias.

Number of items: 71

Procedure/Administration: The original version of the QWB was designed to be interviewer administered. The QWB-SA score is calculated by subtracting from 1.0 the combination of the maximum weighted symptom/problem item and the weights associated with mobility, social activity and physical function. An overall utility score is calculated between 0.0 and 1.0; where 0.0 represents death and 1.0 represent perfect health. 

How scored: N/a

Interpretability: The QWB-SA provides an overall utility value which represents the preference an individual places on their specific health state, scored between 0.0 and 1.0. Data exists on numerous health conditions; for example, community dwelling older adults have a utility value between 0.70-0.75 and individuals with SCI were reported to be 0.55 ( Andressen et al. 1999).

Acceptability: N/a

Languages: The QWB-SA is available in various languages (though none are specified).

Usability: It is not recommended to complete the QWB-SA by proxy.

Time to administer: The QWB-SA is reported to be easier to complete compared to the original QWB measure. It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. 

Time to score: N/a

Training required: None

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: None

Summary: The QWB-SA is a preference-based measure that has been used in individuals with SCI.  It can provide information on health related quality of life and produces a utility value which can be used to calculate quality adjusted life years required for economic analyses. 

Psychometric Summary

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References

• Andressen EM, Fouts BS, Romeis JC, Brownson CA. Performance of health related quality of life instruments in a spinal cord injured population. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1999;80:877-884.