Conceptual model of health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To revise the Wilson and Cleary model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with suggestions for applying each of the components, and to facilitate the use of HRQoL in nursing and health care.


METHODS
HRQoL, based on relevant literature over the past 20 years.


METHODS
The original model was revised in three substantive ways: (a) indicating that biological function is influenced by characteristics of both individuals and environments; (b) deleting nonmedical factors; and (c) deleting the labels on the arrows that tend to restrict characterization of the relationships.


RESULTS
Theoretical background is provided for each of the major components of the model, and examples of instruments to measure them, were added.


CONCLUSIONS
In quality-of-life research, the current challenge is to devise models to clarify the elements of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the causal relationships among them. This revision of Wilson and Cleary's model includes a taxonomy of the variables that often have been used to measure HRQoL. This revision should be useful in research and clinical practice.
Ferrans
Carol Estwing
CE
University of Illinois, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. cferrans@uic.edu
Zerwic
Julie Johnson
JJ
Wilbur
Jo Ellen
JE
Larson
Janet L
JL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015984:Causality; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment