Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: BODY-Q.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial for evaluating healthcare interventions from the patient's viewpoint.
• Weight loss and body contouring surgeries significantly impact patients' lives, necessitating validated measurement tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the development of the BODY-Q, a novel PROM for patients undergoing weight loss and/or body contouring surgery.
• To establish a comprehensive framework covering key domains relevant to patients' surgical experiences.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a literature review, extensive patient interviews (63 qualitative, 22 cognitive), and expert consultations (9 clinicians).
• Development followed a structured process to create a conceptual framework and subsequently design multiple independent scales.

Main Results:

• The BODY-Q development resulted in a conceptual framework encompassing three primary domains: appearance concerns, health-related quality of life, and experience of care.
• Multiple independently functioning scales were created for each aspect of the framework, providing detailed outcome assessments.

Conclusions:

• The BODY-Q offers a validated instrument for assessing patient-reported outcomes in the context of weight loss and body contouring surgery.
• This PROM facilitates a patient-centered evaluation of surgical interventions, contributing to improved clinical practice and patient satisfaction.