Concept Analysis: Quality of LIfe
Nursing 701: Theoretical Perspectives of the Discipline
Quality of Life: A Concept Analysis
Kayla L. Chesley
North Dakota State University
Instructor: Norma Kiser-Larson
Introduction
What does quality of life mean? How would a person define the concept of quality of life? Philosophers have studied questions similar to these in the aspect of what constitutes a “good” life for hundreds of years. There really is no certain date to the origin of quality of life as a specific term. In the years 1953 to 1954, two economists have been linked as the ones who used the concept in expressing their concern over ecological dangers of unlimited economic growth (Snoek, 2000). Other economists in the 1950s researched the ideas of what counts in life is not the quantity of goods but the quality of one’s life. Social scientists began to use the term quality of life in the 1970s. Also in the 1970s, there has been growing interest in quality of life issues in relation to nursing, medicine, and health care (Sarvimaki & Stenbock-Hult, 2000). Philosophers used the concept quality of life in the 1980s to formulate moral judgment, particularly with infanticide and euthanasia in relation to severely handicapped infants and life sustaining treatment (Pennacchini, Bertolaso, Elvira & DeMarinis, 2011). Researcher’s interest in theoretical issues and quality of life has fallen, but quality of life continues to be used in health care and clinical practice (Pennacchini et al, 2011).
There are thousands of people living today with disease and health disparity. For some individuals, the goal of health may not be freedom of disease or health disparity, but a high quality of life. Through concept analysis using the Walker and Avant Model, the concept of quality of life will be examined with an emphasis on health. Many aspects will be explored to the concept, including uses, attributes, case examples, antecedents and empirical referents.
Concept
The concept of quality of life and
Quality of Life: A Concept Analysis
Kayla L. Chesley
North Dakota State University
Instructor: Norma Kiser-Larson
Introduction
What does quality of life mean? How would a person define the concept of quality of life? Philosophers have studied questions similar to these in the aspect of what constitutes a “good” life for hundreds of years. There really is no certain date to the origin of quality of life as a specific term. In the years 1953 to 1954, two economists have been linked as the ones who used the concept in expressing their concern over ecological dangers of unlimited economic growth (Snoek, 2000). Other economists in the 1950s researched the ideas of what counts in life is not the quantity of goods but the quality of one’s life. Social scientists began to use the term quality of life in the 1970s. Also in the 1970s, there has been growing interest in quality of life issues in relation to nursing, medicine, and health care (Sarvimaki & Stenbock-Hult, 2000). Philosophers used the concept quality of life in the 1980s to formulate moral judgment, particularly with infanticide and euthanasia in relation to severely handicapped infants and life sustaining treatment (Pennacchini, Bertolaso, Elvira & DeMarinis, 2011). Researcher’s interest in theoretical issues and quality of life has fallen, but quality of life continues to be used in health care and clinical practice (Pennacchini et al, 2011).
There are thousands of people living today with disease and health disparity. For some individuals, the goal of health may not be freedom of disease or health disparity, but a high quality of life. Through concept analysis using the Walker and Avant Model, the concept of quality of life will be examined with an emphasis on health. Many aspects will be explored to the concept, including uses, attributes, case examples, antecedents and empirical referents.
Concept
The concept of quality of life and
References: Armstrong, D., & Caldwell, D. (2004). Origins of the concept of quality of life in health care: A rhetorical solution to a political problem 21(4), 625-631. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-9961-0 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Population Health (2011) (2013). Health-related quality of life and well-being. Retrieved from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/QoLWBabout.aspx Health Measurement Research Group, The University of Wisconsin (2008). Health related quality of life measures National Marrow Donor Program (2009). Forms manual: Appendix L- Karnofsky/Lansky performance status Pennacchini, M., Bertolaso, M., Elvira, M. M., & De Marinis, ,M.G. (2011). A brief history of the quality of life: Its use in medicine and in philosophy Sarvimäki, A., & Stenbock-Hult, B. (2000). Quality of life in old age described as a sense of well-being, meaning and value