Measuring quality of life

Abstract 

Quality of life (QoL) is a difficult concept to define, particularly in children and adolescents. Within paediatrics the main focus of QoL assessment is health-related, but its measurement is difficult and there are important limitations in the measurement of QoL which are well documented and need to be addressed. Nonetheless without the ability to assess QoL, systematic assessment of issues which may have a negative impact on the QoL of the child may be overlooked and it will also not be possible to evaluate interventions aimed at improving QoL. There are difficult challenges ahead in the development and refinement of QoL measures for use in this setting, and many research opportunities exist in this important and expanding field.

Keywords: quality of life, measurement, children, adolescents

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• f1 Correspondence to: MEMJ. Tel.: +44 29 2071 5229; Fax: +44 29 2070 8064; E-mail: meriel.jenney@uhw-tr.wales.nhs.uk