title: Measuring the quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in clinical practice: a necessary challenge.
abstract: While the physical disability aspect of multiple sclerosis (MS) is of great importance, quality of life (QoL) measurements are being considered increasingly important with regard to evaluating disease progression, treatment, and the management of care provided to MS patients. Despite the acknowledged need to consider QoL issues, QoL assessment remains underutilized in clinical practice. These issues should be explored and understood to promote the use of measuring QoL in MS clinical practice. We explore the difficulties for clinicians: choosing and determining the most appropriate QoL measure and how to best integrate QoL measurements into clinical practice. This paper discusses several avenues to provide to clinicians arguments of the clinical relevance and accuracy of QoL instruments and ultimately to enhance the use of QoL measures in clinical practice for MS patients.
authors.affiliation: EA3279, Self-Perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, School of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baumstarck
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boucekine
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier