Measuring patient distress in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the psychometric properties of a brief, easily administered mental health screening instrument, the Outcome Questionnaire Short Form (OQ-10), for use in primary care. The OQ-10 provides information to the primary care provider about patient distress and well-being and highlights areas that may require additional exploration and/or intervention.


METHODS
The OQ-10 was administered to 292 outpatients in a family practice clinic, along with a standardized measure of functional status and mental health, the Duke Health Profile (DUKE).


RESULTS
The patients' mean age was 37.09 years, and 83% were Caucasian. OQ-10 scores were correlated with all subscales of the DUKE. A principal components analysis of the OQ-10 items revealed two factors: psychological well-being and psychological distress. Well-being was positively related to self-reported health, while distress was not. A subsequent specificity and sensitivity analysis was performed on the OQ-10 total score, and this provided preliminary evidence that the OQ-10 may be useful in gauging the psychological state of patients in primary care.


CONCLUSIONS
The OQ-10 can be used as a brief screening tool for patient psychological distress in primary care. The OQ-10 items reflect distress and well-being, which may be useful to physicians in treating the range of psychological problems seen in primary care settings.
Seelert
K R
KR
Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. krseelert@aol.com
Hill
R D
RD
Rigdon
M A
MA
Schwenzfeier
E
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D012803:Sick Role; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile