Development and empirical testing of a questionnaire-based algorithm to evaluate physical and psychosocial health status in performing artists / Entwicklung und empirische Testung eines fragebogenbasierten Algorithmus zur Erhebung des körperlichen und psychosozialen Gesundheitszustands darstellender Künstlerinnen und Künstler

Abstract

Abstract Background Health care providers like physiotherapists should address the needs of performing artists for a specific health care derived from physical and psychosocial (performance-related) complaints. The aims of this study were (1) to compose an algorithm including subjective outcome measures in order to suggest how to evaluate the physical and psychosocial health status of performing artists in its complexity in a manner as targeted and detailed as possible, and (2) to test the feasibility of applying this algorithm. Methods Questionnaires regarding different health dimensions were searched and assembled to an algorithm. The survey was applied to performing artists in order to test feasibility. The respective questionnaires were scored and interpreted in comparison to cut-off values. Results Performing-art-specific and body-region-specific standardized questionnaires in German with the highest possible psychometric quality were selected. The algorithm covers a series of questionnaires on health-related quality of life, complaints in physical matters—especially musculoskeletal and voice-specific—and in the psychosocial area. Based on specific predefined decision criteria the artist was guided individually through the survey. This was illustrated by the participants' flow through the survey. Profiles of physical and psychosocial complaints for subgroups of 103 participants were built based on multiple scores and showed problems in both dimensions. Discussion It is possible to illustrate the physical and psychosocial health status of performing artists in a multidimensional way using the novel algorithm. It could be used both for groups and individuals to build complaint profiles for research and clinical purposes.