Last update:
16-Sep-2004

Quality of life is a rich and multidimensional concept. The richness of the concept requires that for its evaluation multiple dimensions of quality of life are utilized and multi-item assessments of each dimension selected are utilized. Multi-item assessments whithin a given dimension of quality of life is necessary in order to understand that dimension and its relationship to the illnesses, therapeutic interventions and other life circumstances of patients. Only by utilizing such a set of multiple measures, which may be derived for existing quality of life instruments or created specifically for a given research project, can the validity and reliability of the assessment of a dimension be evaluated. This evaluation can lead, in turn, to an improved theoretical conceptualization of the dimension. This pattern of mutual influence between assessment and conceptualization defines the progress in the quality of life research domain.

Key words: Health, Illness, Measurement, Methodology, Quality of life.