Somatically ill persons' self-nominated quality of life domains: review of the literature and guidelines for future studies.
OBJECTIVE
To review which domains somatically ill persons nominate as constituting their QoL. Specific objective is to examine whether the method of enquiry affect these domains.


METHODS
We conducted two literature searches in the databases PubMed/Medline, CINAHL and Psychinfo for qualitative studies examining patients' self-defined QoL domains using (1) SEIQoL and (2) study-specific questions. For each database, two researchers independently assessed the eligibility of the retrieved abstracts and three researchers subsequently classified all QoL domains.


RESULTS
Thirty-six eligible papers were identified: 27 studies using the SEIQoL, and nine presenting data derived from study-specific questions. The influence of the method of enquiry on patients' self-nominated QoL domains appears limited: most domains were presented in both types of studies, albeit with different frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
This review provides a comprehensive overview of somatically ill persons' self-nominated QoL domains. However, limitations inherent to reviewing qualitative studies (e.g., the varying level of abstraction of patients' self-defined QoL domains), limitations of the included studies and limitations inherent to the review process, hinder cross-study comparisons. Therefore, we provide guidelines to address shortcomings of qualitative reports amenable to improvement and to stimulate further improvement of conducting and reporting qualitative research aimed at exploring respondents' self-nominated QoL domains.
Taminiau-Bloem
Elsbeth F
EF
Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.f.bloem@amc.uva.nl
Visser
Mechteld R M
MR
Tishelman
Carol
C
Koeneman
Margot A
MA
van Zuuren
Florence J
FJ
Sprangers
Mirjam A G
MA
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016208:Databases, Factual; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization