title: Quality of life: input or outcome?
abstract: The focus of this column is to provide a brief overview of several conceptual analyses of quality of life along with their resulting definitions. A discussion of the more specific construct of health-related quality of life in terms of chronic illness is considered followed by an in-depth review of health-related quality of life measurement instruments. Finally, the idea of health-related quality of life considered as input to decision-making instead of designated as an outcome measure is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Saint Xavier University, Woodridge, Illinois, 60517, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poradzisz
authors.forename: Kristine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Florczak
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life