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Why does assessing quality of life reveal the true impact of disease?
As medical technology advances, we no longer rely solely on biomedical indicators to assess a person's health. Quality of Life (QoL) has become an important indicator for measuring health, which can comprehensively reflect a person's physical, psychological and social functions.
The assessment of quality of life is not only related to the disease itself, but also involves the patient's daily life and his or her satisfaction with life.
In healthcare, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) refers to how illness affects a patient's overall well-being over time. Assessing HRQoL using scales and questionnaires can provide insight into the unique impact of the disease on each patient, rather than just the physical effects of having the disease.
In early versions of HRQoL assessment, it mainly relied on the subjective judgment of doctors or assessors, such as whether the patient could independently complete basic daily activities (such as getting up, eating and personal hygiene). However, current thinking recognizes that each patient's expectations and life circumstances are closely related and change over time.
Patients and physicians often differ significantly in their assessments of the same condition, underscoring the importance of measuring quality of life.
Communicating with patients about their needs and expectations through questionnaires can more realistically reflect their living conditions. For example, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) can be used to objectively measure patients' quality of life. The data displayed not only helps medical staff develop treatment plans, but also allows patients to have a clearer understanding of their own conditions.
Studies have shown that the quality of life of patients who are unable to complete ADLs independently will be significantly reduced.
In addition, medication management is an important consideration for elderly patients. Improper medication use and multiple chronic diseases can lead to cognitive impairment, which in turn affects all aspects of quality of life. For older patients, understanding the medications they are taking and how they affect their quality of life is key to assessing and improving their health status.
During treatment, occupational therapists can provide personalized assessments and interventions for patients’ daily activities to improve their quality of life and independence.
For nursing and occupational therapy workers, the assessment of quality of life is also a challenging task, especially for patients with serious and terminal illnesses. In such cases, patients' functional status is often reduced, and caregivers may need to rely on proxy ratings or use simplified questions for assessment.
As the disease progresses, patient and family priorities often change. This change will also affect the measurement of quality of life, and the patient's mentality and expectations when answering questions are important factors affecting the results. A good quality of life assessment tool must take these factors into account to truly reflect the patient's needs and feelings.
In clinical trials, quality of life measurements can not only help assess the effectiveness of treatments but also help guide health policy and resource allocation.
Health-related quality of life surveys have become an essential part of clinical research. These surveys can not only help medical providers develop more effective treatment plans, but can also be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of medical practices and patient satisfaction. When we introduce quality of life indicators into clinical practice, we will ultimately improve the overall quality and efficiency of medical care.
As people pay more and more attention to the quality of life, future health research will explore in depth how to better quantify and improve patients' quality of life. When various factors begin to intertwine and affect patients' lives, can we pursue health while not forgetting the quality of life?
