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Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Quality of Life: What is the Difference?
Abstract
The terms health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and quality of life (QoL) are used interchangeably. Given that these are three key terms in the literature, their appropriate and clear use is important. This paper reviews the history and definitions of the terms and considers how they have been used. It is argued that the definitions of HRQoL in the literature are problematic because some definitions fail to distinguish between HRQoL and health or between HRQoL and QoL. Many so-called HRQoL questionnaires actually measure self-perceived health status and the use of the phrase QoL is unjustified. It is concluded that the concept of HRQoL as used now is confusing. A potential solution is to define HRQoL as the way health is empirically estimated to affect QoL or use the term to only signify the utility associated with a health state.
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“In categorising the measures it became clear that there is inconsistency in the definitions and use of terms such as health status, quality of life and well-being, as previously reported. 211”
From A scoping review to identify process and outcome measures used in acceptance and commitment therapy research, with adults with acquired neurological conditions. (2023) · cites this paper as [211]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Karimi, M., & Brazier, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Karimi, Milad
- Venue
- PharmacoEconomics
- Published
- 2016-02-18
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 645-649
- ISSN
- 1170-7690 (ISSN-L)
- 1179-2027
- OpenAlex
- W2279074305
- Cited by
- 1,646
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 142 · 2025: 232 · 2024: 252 · 2023: 237 · 2022: 217 · 2021: 224 · 2020: 169 · 2019: 92 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 110.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- PharmacoEconomics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- NIHR CLAHRC YH
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Health Education and Validation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- health-related quality of life, quality of life, health, conceptual definitions, terminology, health perception, health utility
- MeSH terms
- Health Status, Humans, Terminology as Topic, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires
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