Evaluation & the health professions
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This article reviews the different ways in which quality-of-life assessment has been applied to and has affected health care research and practice. A schema that describes the steps involved in the ongoing challenge of improving health outcomes is used to structure the review. ⋯ The benefit of quality-of-life assessment has been demonstrated in a number of these areas (e.g., in identifying problems and evaluating treatments). Its role in other applications (e.g., in clinical practice to assess patients' needs) shows great promise and requires additional evaluation.