Clinimetric properties of 3 instruments measuring postoperative recovery in a gynecologic surgical population.
BACKGROUND
General, health-related quality-of-life questionnaires and recovery-specific questionnaires have been used to measure recovery in surgical patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinimetric properties of 3 recovery instruments and to examine whether recovery-specific instruments are useful.


METHODS
The Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40), Recovery Index-10 (RI-10), and RAND-36 health survey were used to measure recovery in women undergoing different types of hysterectomy in the first 12 weeks after operation. Construct validity was assessed by testing predefined hypotheses. The changes observed during the postoperative period were used as indicators for responsiveness.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-one women were included. Response rate and internal consistency were found satisfactory. The highest number of hypotheses used for assessment of construct validity was confirmed in the RI-10. The RI-10 was more responsive compared with the QoR-40 and the RAND-36.


CONCLUSIONS
Because construct validity and responsiveness were greatest in the RI-10, we conclude that this short recovery-specific instrument is useful in studies evaluating postoperative recovery. We recommend the use of the RI-10, unless the immediate postoperative days are of interest in which the QoR-40 was valid.
Kluivers
Kirsten B
KB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. K.Kluivers@obgyn.umcn.nl
Hendriks
Jan C M
JC
Mol
Ben W J
BW
Bongers
Marlies Y
MY
Vierhout
Mark E
ME
Brölmann
Hans A M
HA
de Vet
Henrica C W
HC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome