The QE Health Scale (QEHS): assessment of the clinical reliability and validity of a spiritually based holistic health measure

Purpose.?To assess the clinical reliability and validity of a holistic health measure, the QE Health Scale (QEHS), for use with people with physical disabilities.

Method.?A test-retest design saw the QEHS administered and compared with established measures of health at admission and discharge from three-week inpatient rehabilitation programmes. Data was analysed by factor and correlation analysis. Clinician-reported credibility and usefulness of the theoretical basis of the QEHS, the QEHS itself, and Patient Profiles derived from the QEHS were also used to evaluate clinical validity.

Results.?The QEHS was judged to possess satisfactory reliability and validity.

Conclusion.?The QEHS is a clinically reliable, valid, credible and useful holistic health instrument to facilitate client-centred therapeutic interventions, inform decision-making and evaluate outcomes for people with physical disabilities.