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Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life—Reply

Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life—Reply Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life To the Editor: Dr Detmar and colleagues1 found that a questionnaire that assessed health-related quality of life (HRQL) improved the quality of patient-physician communication about patients' HRQL, and also led to greater satisfaction among both patients and physicians. These results are not surprising. Since the questionnaire is known to have adequate construct validity,2 one would expect it to detect meaningful and clinically relevant issues relating to HRQL. Thus, the study simply showed that physicians in this sample had not been adequately assessing HRQL problems in the course of their standard practice. For physicians who are not already paying adequate attention to HRQL issues, the crucial question is how to motivate them to use HRQL questionnaires in practice. Any implementation strategy must address local barriers to change, which may relate to physicians, patients, or the environment.3 One promising approach is computer-based administration, scoring, and presentation of HRQL results.4 References 1. Detmar SB, Muller MJ, Schornagel JH, Wever LDV, Aaronson NK. Health-related quality-of-life assessments and patient-physician communication: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA.2002;288:3027-3034.Google Scholar 2. Aaronson NK, Ahmedzai S, Bergman B. et al. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: a quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst.1993;85:365-376.Google Scholar 3. Cabana MD, Rand CS, Powe NR. et al. Why don't physicians follow clinical practice guidelines? a framework for improvement. JAMA.1999;282:1458-1465.Google Scholar 4. Velikova G, Brown JM, Smith AB, Selby PJ. Computer-based quality of life questionnaires may contribute to doctor-patient interactions in oncology. Br J Cancer.2002;86:51-59.Google Scholar http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life—Reply

JAMA , Volume 289 (13) – Apr 2, 2003

Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life—Reply

Abstract

Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life To the Editor: Dr Detmar and colleagues1 found that a questionnaire that assessed health-related quality of life (HRQL) improved the quality of patient-physician communication about patients' HRQL, and also led to greater satisfaction among both patients and physicians. These results are not surprising. Since the questionnaire is known to have adequate construct validity,2 one would expect it to detect meaningful and clinically...
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References (39)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.289.13.1636-a
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Improving Communication of Health-Related Quality of Life To the Editor: Dr Detmar and colleagues1 found that a questionnaire that assessed health-related quality of life (HRQL) improved the quality of patient-physician communication about patients' HRQL, and also led to greater satisfaction among both patients and physicians. These results are not surprising. Since the questionnaire is known to have adequate construct validity,2 one would expect it to detect meaningful and clinically relevant issues relating to HRQL. Thus, the study simply showed that physicians in this sample had not been adequately assessing HRQL problems in the course of their standard practice. For physicians who are not already paying adequate attention to HRQL issues, the crucial question is how to motivate them to use HRQL questionnaires in practice. Any implementation strategy must address local barriers to change, which may relate to physicians, patients, or the environment.3 One promising approach is computer-based administration, scoring, and presentation of HRQL results.4 References 1. Detmar SB, Muller MJ, Schornagel JH, Wever LDV, Aaronson NK. Health-related quality-of-life assessments and patient-physician communication: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA.2002;288:3027-3034.Google Scholar 2. Aaronson NK, Ahmedzai S, Bergman B. et al. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: a quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst.1993;85:365-376.Google Scholar 3. Cabana MD, Rand CS, Powe NR. et al. Why don't physicians follow clinical practice guidelines? a framework for improvement. JAMA.1999;282:1458-1465.Google Scholar 4. Velikova G, Brown JM, Smith AB, Selby PJ. Computer-based quality of life questionnaires may contribute to doctor-patient interactions in oncology. Br J Cancer.2002;86:51-59.Google Scholar

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Apr 2, 2003

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