Activity-related quality of life in rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To review approaches to assessment of quality of life (QOL) outcomes in rehabilitation, focusing particularly on traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to introduce the concept of activity-related QOL.


METHODS
A conceptual review, based on extensive searches of MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and other information sources.


METHODS
Studies indexed under QOL and brain injury.


METHODS
Literature search on key words quality of life and traumatic brain injury.


RESULTS
Past research in rehabilitation and TBI has concentrated largely on assessment of function or activity. Although research on QOL after TBI remains limited, many studies have made inferences about QOL without actually assessing it. Persons with TBI experience serious long-enduring problems with QOL. Progress has been made in measurement of QOL and understanding of predictors of QOL after TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research in rehabilitation would do well to consider not only activity outcomes but also the affective quality of everyday life, and the connections between the two. Measures of activity-related QOL may provide a more sensitive, valid, and useful evaluation of rehabilitative therapies than other approaches. Further research is needed to improve measurement and interpretation of QOL assessments. By assessing both objective and subjective features of outcomes, outcomes assessment becomes more complete and potentially more useful.
Johnston
Mark V
MV
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corp, West Orange, NJ 07072, USA.
Miklos
Carol S
CS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001930:Brain Injuries; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome