Measuring Quality of Life Post‐Stroke

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in reporting post‐stroke, health related quality of life (QOL) as a key outcome measure and indicator of therapeutic efficacy. The measurement of quality of life typically encompasses physical, functional, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of life and generally reflects an individual's subjective perception of his/her current function and overall health. Generic instruments that have been used to examine QOL post‐stroke and 3 recently developed stroke specific QOL instruments are reviewed and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The stroke specific QOL measures reviewed here include the Stroke Adapted Sickness Impact Profile (SA‐SIP30), the Stroke Impact Scale, and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Measure (SS‐QOL). The factors that contribute to a decrease in post‐stroke quality of life, and which may influence QOL scores, are then described. Finally, clinical recommendations for the selection and appropriate application of quality of life outcome measures to stroke survivors are presented.