title: Evaluating a new methodology for providing individualized feedback in healthcare on quality of life and its importance, using the WHOQOL-BREF in a community population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted an evaluation to find out how a novel quality of life (QoL) intervention containing guided individualized feedback was appraised. The importance of QoL was matched with QoL assessment for each subjective dimension, using graphical feedback. We examined whether this information was acceptable, feasible and valued beyond the clinical context, among the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design, the intervention was piloted with 129 participants from communities and registered in primary care. WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL Importance scores were graphically matched by dimension. Results were inspected and interpreted with directed guidance to identify good and poor QoL. We report the post-intervention evaluation of feedback, including qualitative themes. Follow-up interviews among those expecting feedback to be helpful explored potential self-management and healthcare uses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After feedback, 65 % reported changes in thoughts and perceptions of QoL, often describing insights as self-affirming. Goals or expectations changed for 34 %, and motivation to change was reported. Over 50 % evaluated the feedback as helpful in the short term or for the future. Follow-up interviews endorsed the value of the feedback and its usefulness in sharing with a healthcare professional (92 %), suggesting it would facilitate professionals' understandings of patients and enable health advice to be targeted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The benefits of using this novel feedback can be extended to the general population, as directed guidance aids interpretation, thereby saving health service costs. This complex pilot intervention needs testing in a blinded fully randomized controlled trial. Beyond independent self-management, graphs could be used during clinical decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Centre for Health and Clinical Research, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, BS16 1DD, UK. Alison.Llewellyn@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. suzanne.skevington@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Skevington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community; Feedback; Healthcare; Importance; Individual; Quality of life