title: Identification of domains relevant to health-related quality of life in patients undergoing major surgery.
abstract: This study examined themes relevant to health-related quality of life as identified by patients undergoing major surgery and by health care providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 patients undergoing major abdominal, cardiac, orthopedic, thoracic, or vascular surgical procedures and 33 health professionals from various disciplines. A total of 58 themes were identified by content analysis. These themes were categorized into 6 domains. These were: physical well-being (14 themes), emotional well-being (13 themes), concern about quality of care (12 themes), social well-being (12 themes), cognitive preparation (4 themes), and spiritual well-being (3 themes). In general, we found that most aspects of health-related quality of life were common across various major surgical procedures and between patients and health care providers. However, when we examined the coverage of these themes in seven commonly-used health-related quality of life instruments, we found that many of the most frequently mentioned themes were not assessed with the available measures. A new evaluative instrument tailored to patients undergoing major surgery may therefore be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, 201, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Keith G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Clinch
authors.forename: Darcy J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ammerman
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fergusson
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Porath
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Offman
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watters
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hébert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life