BACKGROUND
Wellbeing is a valuable outcome with benefits for patients and the wider healthcare system, and the measurement and improvement of subjective forms of wellbeing is a key policy and government objective. Different instruments are available to measure wellbeing; however, each has their own limitations. Existing models of wellbeing focus mostly on a single part, for example psychological or social; however, wellbeing encompasses more than this. The Wellbeing Thermometer (WbT) was developed based on a more holistic framework for wellbeing which encompasses five areas including health, thoughts emotions, spiritual, and social domains.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to validate the Wellbeing Thermometer (WbT) in a sample of colorectal cancer patients in England.
METHODS
A survey, including GAD-7, PHQ-9, WHO-5, and WbT, was administered to adult patients with colorectal cancer reviewed in clinic between 7-28 April 2021 (Cohort 1 Timepoint 1; n=127) and December 2021-February 2022 (Cohort 2 Timepoint 1; n=57). The survey was readministered to the first cohort six months after completion of the initial survey (Cohort 1 Timepoint 2; n=54). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to compare WbT scores to those from other validated tools. A multivariable logistic model explored associations between WbT domains and other validated tools.
RESULTS
The WbT showed moderate to strong correlation with all other validated tools (r range: GAD-7 -0.49 to -0.77; PHQ-9 -0.69 to -0.83; WHO-5 0.66 to 0.85). For Cohort 1 Timepoint 1, the WbT thoughts domain was associated with GAD-7 (p=0.004) and WHO-5 (p=0.002), and the health domain was associated with PHQ-9 (p=0.014). For Cohort 2 Timepoint 1, the WbT thoughts domain was associated with GAD-7 (p=0.02), health domain was associated with WHO-5 (p=0.02), and emotions domain was associated with WHO-5 (p=0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
The WbT is a valid tool for assessing wellbeing in patients with colorectal cancer. The WbT may be a useful addition to both clinical practice and future research and may help shed light on a new area with regards to cancer patients, specifically how they feel and function. This will ultimately increase wellbeing and reduce suffering.