Instruments Used in Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Introduction. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being are used in clinical practice to measure the effects of chronic illness, treatments, and short- and long-term disabilities on the quality of life. Currently, more than 1000 instruments are designed specifically for measuring the quality of life. While some are designed for assessing any disease, others are created for specific conditions. Aim. To establish characteristics of instruments for assessing health-related quality of life. Methods. A review of scientific papers was made to establish characteristics of most commonly used tools for assessing health-related quality of life. Results. Questionnaires shown in this review paper have strong reliability; they use the Likert scale; they consist of approximately 30 items and most of them are holistic; and they evaluate the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains through numerous questions. The criteria for selecting tools and judging the appropriateness of measures include the following: appropriateness, reliability, validity, responsiveness, precision, interpretability, acceptability, and feasibility. Conclusion. Even though many different instruments for measuring HRQoL are available, none is perfect as they are only tools best suited to a particular condition. The choice of instrument depends on the reason for measurement, the primary concepts of interest and the purpose of the study.