Highlights This study develops and validates a scale for perioperative recovery with integrative medicine. It is acceptable for patients in the perioperative period undergoing treatment by either Chinese or integrative medicine, and has good psychometric properties. Traditionality As early as 610 A.D., the ancient book of Chinese medicine named Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun, recorded the application of traditional Chinese medicine after surgical operation. It said patients with intestinal rupture caused by trauma could only drink porridge within 20 days after intestinal anastomosis. If the patients ate too much after the surgery, he might suffer from stomachache. Morever, taking Qianxie Powder (a Chinese medicine prescription consisting of iron scraps, Cornu Cervi, etc.) helped to relieve the pain. Wai Ke Zheng Zong published in Ming Dynasty of China (1617 A.D.) also recorded that Hui Xiang Cao powder (a Chinese medicine prescription consisting of Foeniculum vulgare and Alpinia Rhizoma.) was used for the treatment of postoperative analgesia, and Crinis Carbonisatus was used for postoperative hemostasis. Purpose The aim of this study is to develop and validate a scale for perioperative recovery with integrative medicine. Methods The procedures for developing the scale included a review of both modern and ancient literature, other perioperative scales or questionnaire references, an expert consultation, and interviews with patients and surgeons following standard procedures. Primary face and content validity were assessed through a small-scale patient survey of 50 patients. A final evaluation based on the patient survey was conducted among 354 patients (age range 16-75) from the same hospital. This included testing the perioperative recovery scale for integrative medicine (PRSIM) for scaling properties, reliability, validity and responsiveness. Results The PRSIM, a 20-item scale, was modified from an initial version transcript which included 122 items. The 20 items in the PRSIM covered five domains direct influence, indirect influence, activity, mental function and general health perceptions. Five factors extracted from an exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a desirable model fit. A confirmatory factor analysis further indicated that the PRSIM had a good fit with the same sample. A data analysis of the PRSIM with 349 patients showed that it had good internal consistency (α 0.7), test-retest reliability (ICC 0.4) and split half reliability (α= 0.66). Conclusions The PRSIM can serve as a valuable instrument for assessing patient perioperative recovery in integrative medicine. It is acceptable for patients in the perioperative period undergoing treatment by either Chinese or integrative medicine, and has good psychometric properties.
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