Criterion validation of the Nottingham Health Profile: patient views of surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

As part of a prospective cohort study of 388 men undergoing TURP for benign prostatic hypertrophy, the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was self-administered before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. By comparison of pre- and post-operative NHP scores with other patient-reported health measures the criterion validity of the Profile was examined. Before surgery, statistically significant linear trends were observed for increasing NHP score (i.e. having more health problems) with both worsening self-rated general health and increasing severity of prostatic symptoms. One year after surgery, the extent of reduction in NHP score was significantly linearly associated with a perceived favourable outcome of surgery and to a lesser extent with a reduction in prostatic symptoms. In addition, changes in NHP scores during follow-up were associated with perceived changes in operative outcome during the same period, patients with the greatest reduction in NHP score tending to report more successful surgery at 12 months than at the 3 month assessment.