Happiness: A Novel Outcome Measure in Stroke?

Tissa Wijeratne; Carmela Sales; Chanith Wijeratne; Mihajlo Jakovljevic

doi:10.2147/TCRM.S307587

Happiness: A Novel Outcome Measure in Stroke?

Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2021 Jul 27:17:747-754. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S307587. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Tissa Wijeratne^{1

2

3

4}, Carmela Sales^{1

2}, Chanith Wijeratne⁵, Mihajlo Jakovljevic^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Sunshine Hospital, Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, Australia.
² Department of Psychology & Counselling, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
³ Department of Medicine, AIMSS, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Sunshine Hospital, St Albans, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Department of Medicine, University of Rajarata, Salypura, Anuradhapuraya, Sri Lanka.
⁵ Monash Medical School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Department Global Health Economics & Policy, University of Kragujevac Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kragujevac, Serbia.
⁷ Institute of Comparative Economic Studies, Hosei University Faculty of Economics, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

In this narrated review, we draw attention to the use of happiness as a novel outcome measure in clinical research studies regarding patients with stroke. Commonly used outcome measures in clinical trials in stroke rehabilitation include the modified Rankin Score (mRS), Functional Impairment Measures (FIM), Barthel Index and quality of life (QoL). Despite being a part of QoL, happiness is arguably a significant construct on its own. While QoL assesses perceptions of various extrinsic aspects of life, happiness may be used as a measure of subjective enjoyment of life after an illness. We review the literature discussing the use of happiness as a formal outcome measure in stroke care and subacute and long-term stroke rehabilitation. Ultimately we recommend the wider use of happiness as an outcome measure where appropriate in these settings.

Keywords: brain health; happiness; quality of life; stroke.