The design and construction of quality of life measures

Abstract

There is growing acceptance of the need for improved outcome measures in monitoring and evaluating the impact of health care. Past emphasis on indicators of mortality and morbidity is being replaced with a greater awareness of the possibilities for measuring quality of life (QoL). This discussion paper describes some of the methodological issues which lie behind the design and construction of such measures and reviews some of the principle examples. The derivation and application of disease-specific and generic measures is documented, and the bibliography provides ready access to the main sources of reference material in this field.