The 32nd International Human Science Research Conference
August 13-16 2013, Aalborg University, Denmark
Title:
The art of assessing Quality of Life – request for creativity and validity.
Authors:
Vibeke Høgh, RN, MCN, PhD student, Aalborg Atrial Fibrillation Study Group, Department of
Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark.
Charlotte Delmar, RN, PhD, Professor, Section of Nursing Science, Institute of Public Health,
Faculty of Health Science, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Kirsten Frederiksen, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor, Section of Nursing Science, Institute of Public
Health, Faculty of Health Science, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Abstract:
The concept quality of life is widely used within human and biomedical science.
Despite this fact, a consensus on a definition of the concept is missing. History of the concept
contains a duality between general quality of life, as a subjective perception of a persons’ life
situation, and a desire to measure the concept from standardised questionnaires. Existence of an
implicit societal agreement on reduction of the concept to a measurable outcome is seen in a
systematic literature study on scientific research papers. This emphasizes need for discussion on
how and why to use the concept to improve clarity and stringency when using the concept.
Assessing aspects of quality of life is essential, but to consider what is being assessed and with what
purpose, is even more crucial. Request for creativity and validity is giving, to bring clarity to the art
of assessing quality of life in future.
(max 150 words)