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The Plausibility of Quality-of-Life Measures in Different Domains of Health Care

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Concepts and Measurement of Quality of Life in Health Care

Part of the book series: European Studies in Philosophy of Medicine 1 ((ESPM,volume 47))

Abstract

‘Quality of life’ is a key concept in the contemporary practice of medicine and delivery of health care. Numerous developments in modern medicine, such as psychotropic drugs, open heart surgery, and joint replacement surgery have the capacity to improve individuals’ quality of life. Conversely, many therapies, such as renal dialysis and ostomy surgery for cancer, whilest increasing survival may impose costs in reducing patients’ well-being. It would be impossible even to begin to sum up the costs and benefits of contemporary health care without resort to the notion of quality of life. The controversy associated with the emerging importance of the quality-of-life construct in health care is provoked by attempts to define, assess or measure the construct. Some critics even claim that quality-of-life constructs cannot and should not be measured. Their objections vary from arguments about the basic plausibility and validity of measurement systems [57], through to ethical and philosophical critiques regarding real-world applications of quality of life measurement systems [76]. The intensity of debate surrounding attempts to introduce measures of quality of life into health care suggests that measurement systems are widely adopted. In reality, in the diverse fields of research, clinical practice and resource allocation, resort to formal methods of quality of life assessment have been very few.

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  1. Ray Fitzpatrick
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  2. Gary Albrecht
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  1. Department of Health and Society, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    Lennart Nordenfelt

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Fitzpatrick, R., Albrecht, G. (1994). The Plausibility of Quality-of-Life Measures in Different Domains of Health Care. In: Nordenfelt, L. (eds) Concepts and Measurement of Quality of Life in Health Care. European Studies in Philosophy of Medicine 1, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8344-2_12

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