Age-related macular degeneration and quality of life: how to interpret a research paper in health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To review how to critically appraise a research article pertaining to changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) related to interventions for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


RESULTS
We searched PubMed using a strategy that combined the text-words, "macular degeneration" and "quality of life" (n = 73; January 17, 2004), while limiting the search to "clinical trials" (n = 6; of which 3 were published within the past year). A randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of self-management as an intervention for AMD has been selected to introduce the reader to the concept of how to critically review a research paper pertaining to HRQoL in AMD. Other pertinent articles used in this review include recent results published from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study and the Submacular Surgery Trial.


CONCLUSIONS
The NEI-VFQ is a reliable, valid, and responsive tool when applied to patients with AMD. Self-management of patients with AMD has been demonstrated to improve their HRQoL by way of an internally valid randomized clinical trial. In this issue of Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, we confront the issue of how to assess the validity and importance of a research paper pertaining to the issue of quality of life. To introduce this topic, we will present a real world clinical example to better understand how quality of life may aid in medical decision making.
Sharma
Sanjay
S
Cost Effective Ocular Health Policy Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Brock II-224B, 116 Brock Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 5G2. sanjay_sharma60@hotmail.com
Oliver-Fernandez
Alejandro
A
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile