| Theme | Measuring Health-Related QOL : A new endpoint for clinical | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Measuring health-related quality of life -- its clinical significance : Why QOL now? Why do we measure QOL? | |
| Publish Date | 1997/07 | |
| Author | Shunichi Fukuhara | The University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | Treatments and care for patients with chronic diseases such as chronic renal failure are designed not only to prolong life spans, but also to maintain or improve self-perceived health status and daily activities such as role and social functioning. However, it is not known whether or how these patients perceive so called objectively measured criteria bosed on the medical care providers' point of view; e.g., different types of a disease and their severities. This paper is intended 1) to clarify objectives of measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in clinical research, 2) to clarify its concept and definition based on 1), 3) to describe the characteristics or uniqueness of HRQOL data, 4) to review and summarize controversial issues on HRQOL, and limitations on the of use of HRQOL data in the assessment of medical care, 5) and to discuss future perspectives on research in this field. |
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