Measuring patient distress in primary care

This study examined the psychometric properties of a brief, easily administered mental health screening instrument, the Outcome Questionnaire Short Form (OQ-10), for use in primary care. The OQ-10 provides information to the primary care provider about patient distress and well-being and highlights areas that may require additional exploration and/or intervention.

The OQ-10 was administered to 292 outpatients in a family practice clinic, along with a standardized measure of functional status and mental health, the Duke Health Profile (DUKE).

The patients' mean age was 37.09 years, and 83% were Caucasian. OQ-10 scores were correlated with all subscales of the DUKE. A principal components analysis of the OQ-10 items revealed two factors: psychological well-being and psychological distress. Well-being was positively related to self-reported health, while distress was not. A subsequent specificity and sensitivity analysis was performed on the OQ-10 total score, and this provided preliminary evidence that the OQ-10 may be useful in gauging the psychological state of patients in primary care.

The OQ-10 can be used as a brief screening tool for patient psychological distress in primary care. The OQ-10 items reflect distress and well-being, which may be useful to physicians in treating the range of psychological problems seen in primary care settings.