Measurement of quality of recovery using the QoR-40: a quantitative systematic review

Several rating scales have been developed to measure quality of recovery after surgery and anaesthesia, but the most extensively used is the QoR-40, a 40-item questionnaire that provides a global score and subscores across five dimensions: patient support, comfort, emotions, physical independence, and pain. It has been evaluated in a variety of settings, but its overall psychometric properties (validity, reliability, ease of use, and interpretation) and clinical utility are uncertain. We undertook a quantitative systematic review of studies evaluating psychometric properties of the QoR-40. Data were combined in meta-analyses using random effects models. This resulted in a total sample of 3459 patients from 17 studies originating in nine countries. We confirmed content, construct, and convergent [pooled r0.58, 95 confidence interval (CI): 0.510.65] validity. Reliability was confirmed by excellent intraclass correlation (pooled 0.91, 95 CI: 0.880.93), testretest reliability (pooled r0.90, 95 CI: 0.860.92), and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation0.86). The clinical utility of the QoR-40 instrument was supported by high patient recruitment into evaluation studies (97), and an excellent completion and return rate (97). The mean time to complete the QoR-40 was 5.1 (95 CI: 4.45.7) min. The QoR-40 is a widely used and extensively validated measure of quality of recovery. The QoR-40 is a suitable measure of postoperative quality of recovery in a range of clinical and research situations.