Technology and quality of life outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss recent technological advances in quality of life (QOL) data collection and guidance for use in research and clinical practice. The use of telephone-, computer-, and web/internet-based technologies to collect QOL data, reliability and validity issues, and cost will be discussed, along with the potential pitfalls associated with these technologies.


METHODS
Health care literature and web resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Technology has provided researchers and clinicians with an opportunity to collect QOL data from patients that were previously not accessible. Most technologies offer a variety of options, such as language choice, formatting options for the delivery of questions, and data management services. Choosing the appropriate technology for use in research and/or clinical practice primarily depends on the purpose for QOL data collection.


CONCLUSIONS
Technology is changing the way nurses assess QOL in patients with cancer and provide care. As stakeholders in the health care delivery system and patient advocates, nurses must be intimately involved in the evaluation and use of new technologies that impact QOL and/or the delivery of care.
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA.
Eileen Danaher
ED
Hacker
D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000639:trends; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013689:Telephone