Measuring outcomes of psychological well-being within paediatric health settings

Abstract

There are many widely used, validated patient reported outcome measures for physical and mental health. However, capturing outcomes from young people living with chronic health conditions presents a challenge, needing to take the complex interplay of physical and mental health into consideration. The authors found that regularly used outcome measures for child and adolescent emotional well-being in paediatric settings largely fall into two groups: paediatric quality of life and child and adolescent mental health measures. The applicability and potential for use of these measures within this context is discussed. Whilst offering some utility, neither approach leaves sufficient space for young people’s individual experiences of illness and treatment. The scope of using alternative qualitative approaches that capture the rich stories and experiences of young people living with chronic illnesses is considered.