Plain English Summary
The Department of Health commissioned the development of The Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) measure to the University of Sheffield. ReQoL is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) or a questionnaire designed specifically for those experiencing mental health conditions. Unlike traditional quality of life measures, ReQoL focuses on the process of recovery itself, giving a voice to service users and informing treatment decisions.
ReQoL comes in two formats versions: a shorter 10-item (ReQoL-10) and a more comprehensive 20-item (ReQoL-20) format. Both versions cover a range of recovery-related themes: activity, hope, belonging and relationships, self-perception, well-being, autonomy, and physical health. The questionnaires incorporate both positively and negatively worded statements to capture a nuanced picture of a user's recovery journey. T
The advantages of ReQoL are evident for both service users (individuals receiving mental health services) and mental health professionals. For service users, ReQoL serves as an empowering tool. By actively completing the questionnaire, they can participate in their recovery journey by highlighting areas of progress and pinpointing areas needing further support. Clinicians benefit from a user-friendly and reliable instrument that aids in:
Treatment Planning: ReQoL data helps tailor treatment plans to address specific recovery needs identified by users.
Monitoring Progress: Tracking changes in ReQoL scores over time allows clinicians to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
Demonstrating Effectiveness: ReQoL data can be used to showcase the positive impact of treatment programs to stakeholders and healthcare systems.
The measure's development involved collaboration between service users and clinicians, ensuring its relevance and comprehensiveness for the target population. ReQoL is applicable across a wide range of mental health conditions from common issues to more severe and complex presentations, and even psychotic disorders. While not designed with individuals with dementia or learning disabilities, it effectively caters to a broad spectrum of mental health service users aged 16 and over.
The ReQoL measures can also be used to measure and value health to assess whether health interventions represent value for money. The ReQoL-Utility index can be generated from both ReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20 for use in economic evaluation. This will provide valuable insights into the economic impact of various mental health interventions, potentially influencing service development and how resources are allocated.
ReQoL measures are being used nationally and internationally in routine care, research studies and trials. NHS England has recommenced ReQoL-10 as one of the three measures for use by all community mental health teams. The ReQoL measures are freely for public funded services and research. Licences can be obtained here. The ReQoL measures are available in 20 other languages.