The problem of quality of life in medicine.
The use of the term "quality of life" to encompass the values and perceptions of patients has created doubt, confusion, and misunderstanding among practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and patients. The principal reason for this state of affairs is that a clear conceptual basis for quality-of-life measures is lacking. In this article, the current rationale for quality-of-life measurement in the health field is examined, and the drawbacks of the various models being used are outlined. Our suggestion is that quality of life as an outcome could be explored more clearly (ie, defined) if quality of life were replaced with a more easily handled notion such as that of "subjective health status." However, the idea that the patient's perspective is as valid as that of the clinician when it comes to evaluating outcomes has a great deal of legitimacy and should certainly not be abandoned.
Leplège
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Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Unite 292, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. leplege@vjf.inserm.fr
Hunt
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D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D028663:Ethical Theory; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012945:Social Values