Better, Worse, or the Same: Measuring Your Overall Health with the CDC HRQOL-14

When you go to the doctor it is usually because you are concerned about some symptom or problem because it may mean danger to your health or because it is causing pain or because it is interfering with your ability to function at work or with family or friends.

The CDC HRQOL-14 is a set of questions that provide a snapshot (a measurement) of how your health is affecting your ability to enjoy life and your ability to get things done. By filling it out every so often it can help you and your doctor see how you are doing overall—better, worse, or the same.

Here is a link to the CDC HRQOL-14 PDF that you can print out to follow your patients over time.

Here is a PNG of the CDC HRQOL-14 PDF:

Beginning of the CDC HRQOL-14

The Healthy Days Core Module (the CDC HQROL-4)

1. Would you say that, in general, your health is:

a. Excellent      b. Very good      c. Good      d. Fair      e. Poor

2. Now, thinking about your physical health, which includes illness and injury, for how many days over the past 30 days was your physical health not good?

Number of days:

3. Now, thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days over the past 30 days was your mental health not good?

Number of days:

4. During the past 30 days, for about how many days, did poor physical or mental health, keep you from doing your usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation?

Number of days:

Activity Limitations Module 

These next questions are about physical, mental, or emotional problems or limitations you may have in your daily life.

1. Are you limited in any way in any activities because of any impairment or health problem?

a. Yes           b. No

If you circled yes to question 1, please answer questions 2 through 5 in this module and then proceed to the next module.

If you circled no to question 1, skip questions 2 through 5 in this module and go directly to the next module

2. What is the MAJOR impairment or health problem that limits your activities?

Write down the major impairment or health problem:

3. For HOW LONG have your activities been limited because of your major impairment or health problem?

Write down the number of days, weeks, months, or years:

4. Because of any impairment or health problem, do you need the help of other persons with your PERSONAL CARE needs, such as eating, bathing, dressing, or getting around the house?

a. Yes           b. No

5. Because of any impairment or health problem, do you need the help of other persons in handling your ROUTINE needs, such as every day household chores, doing necessary business, shopping, or getting around for other purposes?

a. Yes             b. No

 Healthy Days Symptoms Module

1. During the past 30 days, for about how many days did PAIN make it hard for you to do your usual activities such as self-care, work, or recreation?

Number of days:

2. During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt SAD, BLUE, or DEPRESSED?

Number of days:

3. During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt WORRIED, TENSE, or ANXIOUS?

Number of days:

4. During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you DID Not get ENOUGH REST or SLEEP?

Number of days:

5. During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt VERY HEALTHY AND FULL OF ENERGY?

Number of days:

End of the CDC HRQOL-14

There are a number of different Health Related Quality of Life instruments. Certain diseases may best be followed by a specific HQROL instrument. And the CDC HRQOL-14 was developed for public health measurement and not for clinical use. But it is in the public domain and so there is no charge for its use. Clinicians and patients can try it and see if it yields useful information for following patients overall health.

For more information on the CDC HRQOL-14 see the Measuring Healthy Days at: https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/pdfs/mhd.pdf

 

 

 

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