Obesity Awareness Scale and Insight Scale (OASIS)

Obesity Awareness Scale and Insight Scale (OASIS)

Market Need:

Twenty to thirty percent of adults, across most of the industrialized world, are characterized as having metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes hypertension (HTN), diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and excess body fat – the principal contributors to increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Although recognized as a core feature of psychotic disorders, impaired illness awareness and the minimization of the need for medical intervention in MetS and obesity are under-recognized and understudied phenomena that contribute to treatment non-adherence and poor clinical outcomes. In 2014, there were over 600 million adults 18 years and older who were obese, accounting for 13% of the global population. It is also reported in 2013 that there are 42 million children under
the age of 5 who were overweight or obese. Obesity was once considered a high-income country problem, however, overweight and obesity are on the rise in low- and middle- income countries. Although influential, the true prevalence of impaired illness awareness or illness denial in metabolic disorders and their impact on medication adherence and treatment outcomes requires further study. Improving illness awareness among individuals with MetS and obesity may facilitate treatment adherence, reduce morbidity, mortality and the need for hospitalization, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. A number of instruments have been developed to measure illness perceptions in metabolic disorders and obesity; however, these scales are not specific to the quantitative assessment of illness awareness or illness denial in these conditions. Moreover, most are cumbersome, difficult to use and interpret. Thus, the aim was to develop easy to use self-report scales of insight and assess the multi-dimensionality of illness awareness in these conditions.

Technology Description:

Our scientists have developed a novel and easy to administer self-report measure of illness awareness in obesity. The measure assesses the core domains of illness awareness, including awareness of need for treatment. With 10-point Likert scales for each item, this scale has the capacity to detect small changes in illness awareness and need for treatment scores. 

Stage of Development:

Investigators are currently validating the scale and conducting tests for reliability. The scale will be validated in English and potentially other languages for wider use. Upon validation, the inventor plans to create an electronic version, which will facilitate data storage for research studies and clinical use. 

Advantages:

• Specific to the quantitative assessment of impaired illness awareness or illness denial

• User friendly tool with the capacity to detect small changes in illness awareness scores with the use of 10-point
  Likert scales for each item

• Provides a set of questions specific to blood pressure that are within the niche of understanding patient awareness
  of their illness

• Offers a screening mechanism to determine which patients are most suitable for medication adherence programs or
  interventions to enhance illness acceptance and medication adherence.