Quality of life – defining the concept and its significance for medicine and health care

Overview

A review is presented of the development of the concept „Quality of life“ and its grasping in the context of various disciplines. Emphasized is its interdisciplinary character while the greatest attention is devoted to psychological, sociological and medical interpretation. The authors conclude that the term „Quality of life“ has its objective as well as subjective aspects and has several domains. Each domain touches a different aspect of human existence, and their meaning for the overall quality of life differs in each individual. The objective aspect of quality of life can be equalled to living conditions among which there is the health of any given individual. The subjective aspect of quality of life is determined by the overall satisfaction with life, i.e. the cognitive (more or less rational) evaluation of one’s own life as well as the emotional experiencing of it. Studying the quality of life reflects the contemporary trend in the blending of the sociological and biomedicinal approaches to studying man. It has a practical impact in medicine and health care in the effort to change the approach to care of the ill patient as well as in the promotion and development of preventive endevors. Orientation on the quality of life means that medical personnel are interested not only in the clinical results of indicated therapies, but also in their influence on the everyday life of patients, i.e. on their partnership, sexual life, self-sufficiency, social contacts, ability to follow interests and hobbies, etc.

Key words:
quality of life – interdisciplinary approach – definition of quality of life – domains in the quality of life – health related quality of life – measuring the quality of life.