The WHO-5 Well-being Index is a validated and sensitive tool for assessing changes in patients’ QOL.1
The index comprises five items (WHO-5) related to positive mood (good spirits and relaxation), vitality (being active and waking up fresh and rested), and general interests (being interested in things). Each of the five items is rated on a six-point Likert scale from 0 (=not present) to 5 (=constantly present). The theoretical raw score (ranging from 0–25) is calculated by totalling the figures for each of the five answers, and this is multiplied by four to transform it into a percentage score from 0 (worst possible QOL) to 100 (best possible QOL), such that higher scores mean better well-being. In order to monitor possible changes in well-being, the percentage score is used – a 10% difference indicates a significant change.2
Download the English version of the WHO-5 Well-being Index (PDF - external website). Additional language versions are available from the WHO-5 Well-being Index website: www.who-5.org.
References:
1. Bech P, Olsen LR, Kjoller M, et al. Measuring well-being rather than the absence of distress symptoms: a comparison of the SF-36 Mental Health subscale and the WHO-Five Well-Being Scale. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2003; 12: 85–91.
2. WHO Five Well-being Index website: www.who-5.org, accessed January 2008.