Subjective health assessments and the perceived outcome of minor surgery.

A simple and standardised measure of perceived health status, the Nottingham Health Profile, was used to assess the effect on perceived health status of surgical intervention in a variety of non-acute medical disorders. Patients were assessed a few days before their operation and again two months later and were compared with a control group who had not undergone surgery. Results showed very little change in subjective health from before to after surgical intervention.