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US 2025 population survey results support JWRG’s simpler aggregation of single-item-per-domain (SIPD) short forms that more practically capture 5 distinct disease-specific outcomes. Results confirm practicality of a new < 1-minute QOL/Control Test summary score and profile of 5 key obesity-specific outcomes and their responsiveness to clinically important differences across CDC/WHO defined body mass index (BMI) severity groups. The first scientific presentation at the 32nd Annual ISOQOL Conference is also available online at: https://jwrginc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Ware_Cushing_ISOQOL_Obesity_Poster_Upload_20251008.pptx This poster presentation introduces a new Obesity-specific QOL/Control Test, reports the first of six independent disease-specific evaluations of JWRG’s template for standardizing (across diseases) and aggregating (across key outcomes) single-item-per-disease (SIPD) measures for purposes of estimating a single summary test score and a profile of substantially related but distinct disease-specific outcomes. In the current study, the following disease-specific outcomes were all measured with attribution specifically to “Obesity:” Background Although these five outcomes, particularly QDIS frequency and severity measures are frequently cited in studies of different chronic diseases, items have rarely been standardized and/or used in unison across chronic diseases prior to the Disease Impact CAT (DICAT) studies that launched QDIS in 2010 and continuing through the current 2025 study. JWRG launched an NIH-funded innovative research disease impact measurement project that has  evolved over the past 10 years into the shortest-possible single-item-per-domain (SIPD) short form for five essential disease-specific PRO’s. Other prevalent chronic condition (asthma, diabetes, depression, low back pain and osteoarthritis) studies testing the generalizability of the JWRG QOL/Control Test are underway. The QOL/Control Test uses the 5-category […]

Research published in the Quality of Life Research journal shows that the improved 8-item QGEN-8 significantly captures the QOL outcomes associated with increases in the severity of acute symptoms of chronic respiratory disease with results comparable to the longer SF-36 survey. Previous publications have shown how the QGEN-8 survey was developed, its practical advantages and psychometric performance. It consists of eight items and takes about one minute to complete. It not only reduces the burden on respondents, but its improved items expand the range of levels measured and minimize ceiling effects (the percentage of respondents who cannot improve) for each QOL domain. Additionally, QGEN-8 empirically maintains convergent validity with SF-36 profiles and validly discriminates each domain from the others while accurately estimating both physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) summary scores from the SF-36. For the whole article: https://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/fulltext/9900/improved_items_for_estimating_sf_36_profile_and.310.aspx This article presents results from the first Internet-based monitoring of outcomes comparing the shorter QGEN-8 survey with the widely used SF-36 among adults with clinical conditions. The findings show how declines in QOL are greater as acute respiratory symptoms worsen, both in adults diagnosed with and without chronic respiratory disease. From a clinical perspective, results showing that acute sore throat and cough broadly worsen QOL, support physicians’ and pharmacists’ understanding of their full effects and taking appropriate steps to proactively manage patients’ recovery. For more details, read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11136-022-03319-4 From a methodological perspective, more practical tools for monitoring QOL outcomes of acute respiratory symptoms have implications for other conditions […]

For permission to use JWRG’s QGEN and QDIS short-form surveys worldwide, contact the non-profit Mapi Research Trust (MRT). In addition to royalty-free access for academic research, MRT is the source for commercial licenses to use QGEN and QDIS by medical products and pharmaceutical companies, healthcare delivery organizations, health information technology vendors and all other commercial applications. Submit your request to Mapi Research Trust’s ePROVIDE platform. QGEN is a new survey developed by JWRG to measure eight essential QOL domains, including functioning (physical, role, and social) and feelings (pain, vitality, and emotional well-being). QGEN items improve Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) and other legacy short form items by increasing response category ranges for three functioning domains and constructing an item directly measuring each of the three higher-order feeling domains (mental, vitality and pain) factors. Benefits include greater item efficiency and response categories increasing score range to reduce ceiling effects. QGEN single-item scores are scored to provide unbiased estimates of average SF-36 multi-item profile scores for their eight common QOL domains. QGEN items also yield unbiased estimates of SF-36 physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) summary scores and the SF-6D health utility index. For all forms, higher scores indicate better functioning and well-being. Profiles and summary scores are transformed to have mean=50 and SD=10 in the general US population using 2020 norms. This standardization enables comparability with three decades of population norms, published effect size and minimally important differences, and other interpretation guidelines. QDIS is a family of more efficient and psychometrically-sound disease specific QOL impact forms with content as […]

Ware J, et al.J Am Soc Nephrol.2019;doi:JASN-2018-08-0814.R3 March 22, 2019 John E. Ware Jr. Nephrology News and Issues reported that Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-36) measures are less efficient than new CKD-specific QOL Disease Impact Scale (QDIS) outcome measures according to a study comparing the clinical validity of these methods published in az leading clinicasl journal. The Nephrology News noted that current patient-reported outcome measures are not as practical or clinically useful as is needed for patients with CKD. Therefore, researchers compared the usefulness a new CKD-specific QDIS scale against the commonly used KDQOL-36 measure. “Despite its widespread use, the KDQOL-36 has disadvantages. In an attempt to be short to reduce overall respondent burden, important CKD-specific outcome domains are omitted,” the authors wrote. “Short forms also may yield scores that are too imprecise for use in individual patient clinical care. In addition, static surveys such as the KDQOL-36 administer the same questions to everyone, including some questions that may be irrelevant to a specific individual. The range of reliable measurement is restricted, limiting the ability to detect score change associated with changes in disease severity or with treatment [effects].” Three groups of patients (either non-dialysis stages 3 to 5, on dialysis or post-transplant) were included for a total of 145 patients. According to the study, each patient completed the KDQOL-36, SF-12, CKD-QOL-6 (QDIS-CKD prototype) static and computer adaptive test (CAT) forms at baseline and 3 months. Researchers compared baseline results with 3-month outcomes to determine the efficiency and validity […]