[Quality of life and utility measures: clinical parameters for decision-making in health].
In recent decades, the international scientific community has become increasingly interested in the concept of quality of life. One of the most important implications of the focus on quality of life is a shift from "cure" to "a guarantee of a better life" as a health care goal, as well as the inclusion of individuals' preferences for certain health states in the decision-making process with treatments, diagnostic strategies, and health spending. This is especially important as the prevalence of chronic diseases increases as a result of the aging of the population. This piece describes the main concepts and applications related to this new health paradigm, including quality of life itself, utility measures, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and health decision analysis.
Campolina
Alessandro Gonçalves
AG
Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. alecampolina@yahoo.com.br
Ciconelli
Rozana Mesquita
RM
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors