Qualitative interviews vs standardized self-report questionnaires in assessing quality of life in heart transplant recipients

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Aug;30(8):963-6. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2011.03.017. Epub 2011 Apr 30.

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) studies in heart transplant recipients (HTRs) using validated, quantitative, self-report questionnaires have reported poor QoL in approximately 20% of patients. This consecutive mixed methods study compared self-report questionnaires, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36) and the Atkinson Life Satisfaction Scale, with phenomenologically informed audiovisual (AV) qualitative interview data in 27 medically stable HTRs (70% male; age 53 ± 13.77 years; time since transplant 4.06 ± 2.42 years). Self-report questionnaire data reported poor QoL and more distress compared with previous studies and normative population samples; in contrast, 52% of HTRs displayed pervasive distress according to visual methodology. Using qualitative methods to assess QoL yields information that would otherwise remain unobserved by the exclusive use of quantitative QOL questionnaires.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Heart Transplantation / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Self Report*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Transplantation / psychology*
  • Videotape Recording