Measuring quality of life with the sickness impact profile: a pilot study

A pilot-study was done to investigate the applicability of the sickness impact profile (SIP) in ex-ICU patients. For this study 221 consecutively admitted patients were reviewed retrospectively after excluding children, deceased patients and readmissions. SIP was assessed in these patients by either interview or questionnaire. These were divided into three groups: i) Patients interviewed at home (n = 26). ii) Patients receiving the SIP-questionnaire by mail (n = 93). iii) As for group ii, but after receiving a telephone invitation to participate (n = 102). Highest mean SIP-score was found in group i (16.3). Groups ii and iii scored 10.2 and 7.9 respectively. Analysis of variance demonstrated overall SIP-scores of these groups to be significantly different. The response in group iii (77%) was significantly higher compared to group ii (56%). Data collection in Group i appeared to be most expensive costing $13.20 per patient, followed by group iii ($3.79) and group ii ($2.56). It is concluded that the self-administered SIP is suitable for measuring outcome in ICU-patients and is much cheaper than the direct interview technique. The 3 different approaches should be considered as independent methods of which individual results cannot be compared. The response can be improved significantly by calling the patients before sending the questionnaire.