Measurement of quality of life in rehabilitation medicine: emerging issues.
The articles in the current supplement (Part II) present emerging issues in the measurement of quality of life (QOL). The articles were prepared based on presentations at a meeting held in November 2001. Part I (December 2002) provided important background information, definitions, and approaches that have been used in various rehabilitation populations. The articles in the current supplement are intended to provide information about new advances in QOL measurement. They review issues such as measuring QOL from the individual's perspective, adapting instruments for different cultures and illiteracy, and using advanced psychometric techniques to build a computer-adapted measurement system. Novel solutions are offered. We hope that this information can be used to set a research agenda for improving the measurement of QOL in rehabilitation medicine. The present article outlines these issues and provides a context for the information that has been presented in the 2 supplements.
Tulsky
David S
DS
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corp, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-The New Jersey Medical School, West Orange, NJ 07901, USA. dtulsky@kmrrec.org
Rosenthal
Mitchell
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards