[Quality of life and scales measuring].
METHODS
To present a review of the concept and the measurement of quality of life.


BACKGROUND
The concept of quality of life was developed in the seventies aiming to complete the medical evaluation. It appeared with improvement of disease prognosis, medical evaluation and the development of patient autonomy of patients. The methodology used to construct quality of life scales is presented. Problems raised by adaptation of instruments for use in other culture are briefly discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
These scales are now used in clinical research, medical economic studies and day-to-day practice. However, ethical issues surrounding these measures persist.
Brousse
C
C
Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital Foch, 40, rue Worth, 92150 Suresnes, France. c.brousse@hopital-foch.org
Boisaubert
B
B
D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results