WPHI survey measures quality of whole-person health

Whole-person health is a subjective concept that often presents challenges when it comes to measurement. Researchers at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) have come up with a solution: the Whole Person Health Index (WPHI).

“As health care providers and researchers, we often struggle to capture the full picture of an individual’s overall health,” said Helene M. Langevin, MD, the NCCIH’s director, in a blog post introducing the new tool. She explained that the WPHI integrates individual-level biological and behavioral factors for use in research, public health and patient care.

The versatile tool is useful for both patients and practitioners, allowing insights into health and a means of tracking overall health over time. “The WPHI can serve as an anchor or reference point for connecting diverse health data, all while keeping the individual’s personal health perspective at its core,” Langevin said.

Nine questions in WPHI rating system

The WPHI consists of nine questions developed and validated through a collaboration between the NCCIH and the National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients rate nine key areas on a scale of 1 to 5, from “excellent” to “poor”: their health in general, quality of life, social and family connections, diet, physical activity level, ability to manage stress, sleep quality, ability to find meaning and purpose in daily life, and ability to manage their health. Then they total their score and, when they take the assessment again after treatment or after a period of time, they retake the survey to see how their score has changed.

The WPHI is free to use, noted Langevin, for both patient care and research.

For more information, visit nccih.nih.gov.

About the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NCCIH’s mission is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and integrative health approaches and their roles in improving health and healthcare. For additional information, call NCCIH’s Clearinghouse toll free at 888-644-6226. Follow the NCCIH on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.