Question

define and explain the quality of life

Answer 1

Quality of life is a complex, multifaceted construct that requires multiple approaches from different theoretical angles.

Definition of Quality of Life

The concept of quality of life broadly encompasses how an individual measures the ‘goodness’ of multiple aspects of their life. These evaluations include one’s emotional reactions to life occurrences, disposition, sense of life ful-filment and satisfaction, and satisfaction with work and personal relationships .In the literature, the term ‘quality of life’ is also often referred to as ‘well-being’.

HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

The concept of quality of life first appeared in medical science in the 70s of the previous century under the influence of, among other things, the changing paradigm of health and health-care,Although the 20th century saw extraordinary achievements in medicine,health-care system found itself in crisis. This was due not only to economic reasons but also the changing nature of illness, from acute to chronic,whose causes were increasingly linked to an individual’s lifestyle.

According to the experts of WHO, the concept of quality of life ought to comprise an individual’s mode of perception of their material and subjective resources, information about their functioning, its assessment and the level of satisfaction with it.

Quality of life has been defined as the perception by an individual of their position in life in the context of value and culture systems they live in, and in relation to the culture’s expectations, standards and interests. It includes the following elements:

. physical condition,

. mental condition,

. self-reliance,

. social relationships,

. environment,

. religion, beliefs, convictions and views.

MAIN AREAS OF RESEARCH ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

As it turns out, patients diagnosed with the same disease, having a similar medical history and prognosis can differ in respect of the sense of quality of life. A very sick person can display a greater contentment with and enjoyment of life than a person suffering from a minor ailment. The quality of life in illness, then, is not determined solely by the objective state of health. This compels one to adopt a biopsychosocial model of quality of life based on the general theory of systems, which basically differs from the mechanistic and reductionist biomedical model still predominating in medi-cine. Including psychosocial factors allows creating an approach that incorporates human qualities of both the physician and the patient .

Most research into health-related quality of life concentrates on the

following groups of people:

1) suffering from chronic diseases (cancer, AIDS, diabetes, epilepsy etc.);

2) disabled or terminally ill requiring constant medical and nursing care;

3) living in stressful conditions (staying in hospices or refugee camps,

old people);

4) suffering from personality disorders;

5) children.

Measurement of health-related quality of life was first used in oncology.The measurement took the following three dimensions into account:

1) functional state of the patient together with general and specific symptoms;

2) psychological dimension;

3) social aspects, such as family, social support, economic status etc.Later on, measurements came to include the spiritual dimension .

Measurements of health-related quality of life carried out by patients with terminal diseases comprise four areas:

1) physical efficiency as affecting the ability to function unaided;

2) somatic state reflecting the efficiency of basic physiological functions,and the somatic sensations that a patient experiences;

3) psychological condition, especially the assessment of fear and depression, and possible disorders of psychical functions;

4) social sphere reflected in the kind and quality of human interactions.

*)With regard to elderly people, it is assumed that quality of life is related to satisfaction with life in this period.

*)In chronic diseases,quality of life depends on comprehensive rehabilitation(medical,occupational, psychosocial).

*)In dermatological diseases, particular attention is directed to the negative impact of physical appearance on social and interpersonal relationships.