scholarly journals Measurement of Quality of Life II. From the Philosophy of Life to Science

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 962-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Joav Merrick ◽  
Niels Jorgen Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
The Good Life ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
Sick Patient ◽  
Life Philosophy

We believe it should be possible to make operational the philosophical ideas of the good life in order to make it the object of scientific research. The Quality of Life Research Center in Copenhagen, Denmark has therefore spent the last several years with these questions and tried to find practical and evidence-based scientific solutions.This paper describes the theoretical road taken in moving from the abstract philosophy of life to the actual questionnaire. It presents an important aspect of our work with the quality-of-life (QOL) concept though the last decade. We have developed the quality-of-life philosophy; the SEQOL, QOL5, and QOL1 questionnaires; the quality-of-life theory; and the quality-of-life research methodology. We carried out quality-of-life population surveys and developed techniques for improving quality of life with the chronically sick patient. This paper presents the struggle to create a rating scale for the generic measurement of the global quality of life, based on quality-of-life theory, derived from quality-of-life philosophy. The developed rating scale is a ratio scale combining a Likert scale, a visual analogue scale, and a numerical scale, to a reduced combination scale. This allows for the extraction of as much information from the respondents as possible without exhausting them unduly or demanding more than can be reasonably expected.

scholarly journals Quality of Life Philosophy VI. The Concepts

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1230-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Inner Life ◽  
World State ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The World ◽  
Life Philosophy

The about a hundred central concepts related to research in the global quality of life can, in a holistic medical frame of interpretation, be organized under ten abstract key concepts: existence, creation of the world, state of being, daily living, talents, relations, sex, health, personal development, and therapy with subthemes as discussed in this paper. The paper shows that the concepts in each group can be seen as related to each other in a quite intuitive and logical way, to give a coherent quality of life philosophy that allows the physician to encourage, inspire, and support his patient. In every consultation, one new concept and idea of existence can be taught to the patient, helping him or her to realize the meaning of life, the source of joy, and the reason for the actual suffering. In this way, we help the patient to mobilize hidden and known resources and to improve quality of life, subjective health, and the ability to function. The concepts were harvested in 2003 at a Nordic seminar on quality of life research, held in Sweden. Life does not only cohere on the inside, but also on the outside. The same power that ties together all the cells in our body, seems to tie us together in relationships and new wholeness. This power evolves into new kinds of relations that unite on more and more complex levels, with the global ecosystem as the highest known level.Our intentions come from this coherent matrix of life. In the beginning of our life, the web of life itself gave birth to our fundamental purpose of life. The abstract purpose determines the frame of interpretation of reality: How we will perceive ourselves throughout life, our inner life, and the world around us. The frame of interpretation is pitched in language and concepts, in fact it creates our perceptions. Based on these perceptions and our purposes of life, our behavior arises. Our consciousness evolves through the witnessing of our behavior and through the response caused by it. Through the slowly acquired mastering of our surrounding world, we obtain our power, which gives us success in life, when we use it responsibly and unite it in harmony with our deepest purpose of life. When many people experience not having success, it is because they are not conscious about their original purpose or the deepest meaning of their lives. They do not know themselves. They do not experience the world in that way and do not realize that they themselves are the cause. Therefore responsibility and self-knowledge, which add up to wisdom, are the ways to a good and successful life.

scholarly journals Quality of Life and Philosophy of Life Determines Physical and Mental Health: Status Over Research Findings From The Quality of Life Research Center, Copenhagen, 1991-2007

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1743-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Isack Kandel ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Individual

Quality of life (QOL) has over the past decade become an important part of health science and also increased public awareness. It has become increasingly apparent that illness is closely related to the individual perception of a good life, and therefore the exploration of indicators related to quality of life appears to be of broad importance for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Identifying, which factors constitute a good life may reveal an understanding about what areas in life should be encouraged, in order to enhance the global quality of life, health, and ability. In this paper we present results from studies initiated in 1989 to examine quality of life in relation to disease. The purpose of this presentation was to assemble the results from the study carried out in the years between 1993 and 1997, examining a total of 11.500 Danes, to show the association between quality of life and a wide series of social indicators.

scholarly journals Measurement of Quality of Life VII. Statistical Covariation and Global Quality of Life Data: The Method of Weight-Modified Linear Regression

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1020-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
Life Data ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychometric Measures ◽  
Exact Size

Existing standard statistical procedures do not seem to fulfill the needs of the researcher in global quality-of-life (QOL) research, because the most interesting question seems to be the exact size of statistical covariations. A method is necessary if we are to isolate the most important factors connected to quality of life among the thousands of possible factors in life. We have developed a new procedure we call �weight-modified linear regression�. Unfortunately as demonstrated in the discussion, the procedure is not totally without problems and weaknesses. In spite of the critique, we believe the procedure to be valid for the purpose of estimating the size of the covariation in population studies including psychometric measures of global quality of life. As we need to be certain that the procedure is valid, we hereby invite the scientific community to give us further critique of the method and suggestions for its improvement.

scholarly journals Fertility Related Quality of Life in Primary Infertile Couples: A Comparative Study from Eastern India

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Swarnali Bose ◽  
Bharati Roy
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Infertile Couple ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Primary Infertility ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Family ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Written Informed Consent

Fertility is considered as a marital responsibility in most the communities and a kind of social respectability for couples. The societal and parental pressures for propagation of the family name can also place a psychological burden on the infertile couple and may significantly affect quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the gender differences in fertility related quality of life in primary infertility. 30 couples with primary infertility were recruited for the study after a written informed consent. Hindi version of FertiQoL was applied to all participants. Males had significantly better emotional, relational, social and global quality of life (QoL) as compared to females. Tolerability to infertility related problems was significantly better in females compared to males. This study found that primary infertility has extensive negative repercussions on the QOL of women as compared to males.

scholarly journals Quality of Life Philosophy V. Seizing the Meaning of Life and Becoming Well Again

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1210-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Meaning Of Life ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Life Philosophy ◽  
The One ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Taking Responsibility

This paper presents a positive philosophy of life developed to support and inspire patients to take more responsibility for their own lives and to draw more efficiently on their known or hidden resources. The idea is that everybody can become wiser, use themselves better, and thus improve quality of life, subjective health, and the ability to function.To be responsible means to see yourself as the cause of your own existence and state of being. To be the one who forms your own life to your liking, so that others do not shape it in the way they prefer to see you. Seen this way, taking responsibility in practice is one of the most difficult things to do. One of the greatest and most difficult things to do in this context is to be able to love. To be the one who loves, instead of being the one who demands love, care, awareness, respect, and acceptance from somebody else.Since almost all of us have had parents who maybe loved us too little and mostly conditionally, we all harbor a deep yearning to be loved as we are, unconditionally. A lot of our energy is spent trying to find recognition and acceptance, more or less as we did as children from our parents, who created the framework and defined the rules of the game. But today, reality is different. We have grown up and now life is about shaping our own existence. So we must be the ones who love. This is what responsibility is all about. Taking responsibility is, quite literally, moving the barriers in our lives inside ourselves. Taking responsibility for life means that you are willing to see that the real barriers are not all these external ones, but something that can be found within yourself. Of course there is an outside world that cannot be easily shaped according to your dreams. But a responsible point of view is that although it is difficult, the problem is not impossible; it is your real challenge and task. If there is something you really want, you can achieve it, but whether it happens depends on your wholehearted, goal-oriented, and continuous attempts. This paper describes the philosophy about seizing the meaning of life and becoming well again, even when there is little time left.

scholarly journals Trend of global quality of life in localized or metastatic prostate cancer patients after treatment

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. S53-S54
Author(s):  
Yao-Lin Kao ◽  
Yuh-Shyan Tsai ◽  
Zong-Ying Lin ◽  
Chien-Hui Ou ◽  
Wen-Horng Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Metastatic Prostate Cancer ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life

scholarly journals Quality of life in persons living with HIV–AIDS in three healthcare institutions of Cali, Colombia

2010 ◽  
pp. 206-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Patricia Valencia ◽  
Gladys Eugenia Canaval ◽  
Diana Marín ◽  
Carmen J. Portillo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
Hiv Aids

Antecedents: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is currently considered a chronic disease; hence, quality of life is an important goal for those suffering the disease or living with someone afflicted by the virus. Objectives: We sought to measure the quality of life in individuals living with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus and establish its relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a sample of 137 HIV-infected individuals attending three healthcare institutions in the city of Cali, Colombia. Quality of life was measured via the HIV/AIDS-Targeted Quality of Life (HAT-QoL) instrument. The descriptive analyses included mean and standard deviation calculations. To determine the candidate variables, we used the student t test and the Pearson correlation. The response variable in the multiple linear regression was the score for quality of life. Results: Some 27% of the sample were women and 3% were transgender; the mean age of the sample was 35 + 10.2 years; 88% had some type of health insurance; 27% had been diagnosed with AIDS, and 64% were taking antiretroviral medications at the time of the study. Quality of life was measured through a standard scale with scores from 0 to 100. Participants’ global quality of life mean was 59 + 17.8. The quality-of-life dimensions with the highest scores were sexual function, satisfaction with the healthcare provider, and satisfaction with life. The highest quality-of-life scores were obtained by participants who received antiretroviral therapy, had health insurance, lower symptoms of depression, low frequency and intensity of symptoms, and no prior reports of sexual abuse. Eight variables explained 53% of the variability of the global quality of life. Conclusions: Those receiving antiretroviral therapy and who report fewer symptoms best perceived their quality of life. Implications for practice: Healthcare providers, especially nursing professional face a challenge in caring to alleviate symptoms and contribute to improving the quality of life of their patients.

Quality of Life After Transhiatal Compared With Extended Transthoracic Resection for Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 4202-4208 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G.E.M. de Boer ◽  
J.J.B. van Lanschot ◽  
J.W. van Sandick ◽  
J.B.F. Hulscher ◽  
P.F.M. Stalmeier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Gradual Improvement ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
Generic Quality

PurposeTo assess 3 years of quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in a randomized trial comparing limited transhiatal resection with extended transthoracic resection.Patients and MethodsQuality-of-life questionnaires were sent at baseline and at 5 weeks; 3, 6, 9, and 12 months; and 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 years after surgery. Physical and psychological symptoms, activity level, and global quality of life were assessed with the disease-specific Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Generic quality of life was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-20.ResultsA total of 199 patients participated. Physical symptoms and activity level declined after the operation and gradually returned toward baseline within the first year (P < .01). Psychological well-being consistently improved after baseline (P < .01), whereas global quality of life showed a small initial decline followed by continuous gradual improvement (P < .01). Quality of life stabilized in the second and third year. Three months after the operation, patients in the transhiatal esophagectomy group (n = 96) reported fewer physical symptoms (P = .01) and better activity levels (P < .01) than patients in the transthoracic group (n = 103), but no differences were found at any other measurement point. For psychological symptoms and global quality of life, no differences were found at any follow-up measurement. A similar pattern was found for generic quality of life.ConclusionNo lasting differences in quality of life of patients who underwent either transhiatal or transthoracic resection were found. Compared with baseline, quality of life declined after the operation but was restored within a year in both groups.

scholarly journals A cognitive–existential intervention to improve existential and global quality of life in cancer patients: A pilot study

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Gagnon ◽  
Lise Fillion ◽  
Marie-Anik Robitaille ◽  
Michèle Girard ◽  
François Tardif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Usual Condition ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Individual

AbstractObjective:We developed a specific cognitive–existential intervention to improve existential distress in nonmetastatic cancer patients. The present study reports the feasibility of implementing and evaluating this intervention, which involved 12 weekly sessions in both individual and group formats, and explores the efficacy of the intervention on existential and global quality of life (QoL) measures.Method:Some 33 nonmetastatic cancer patients were randomized between the group intervention, the individual intervention, and the usual condition of care. Evaluation of the intervention on the existential and global QoL of patients was performed using the existential well-being subscale and the global scale of the McGill Quality of Life (MQoL) Questionnaire.Results:All participants agreed that their participation in the program helped them deal with their illness and their personal life. Some 88.9% of participants agreed that this program should be proposed for all cancer patients, and 94.5% agreed that this intervention helped them to reflect on the meaning of their life. At post-intervention, both existential and psychological QoL improved in the group intervention versus usual care (p = 0.086 and 0.077, respectively). At the three-month follow-up, global and psychological QoL improved in the individual intervention versus usual care (p = 0.056 and 0.047, respectively).Significance of results:This pilot study confirms the relevance of the intervention and the feasibility of the recruitment and randomization processes. The data strongly suggest a potential efficacy of the intervention for existential and global quality of life, which will have to be confirmed in a larger study.

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