What it means
A person's own view of their well-being. Health-related quality of life looks at how illness and treatment affect daily function, pain, mood and social life. It is a common goal in chronic illness, palliative care and end-of-life care, where comfort may matter more than cure.
For the nurse
Ask the client what matters most to them and plan care around those goals. Only the client can judge their own quality of life.
At a glance
| Spanish | calidad de vida |
|---|---|
| Also written | QOL, QoL, quality-of-life |
Related terms
plan of care
A written plan that lists a client's problems, goals and the nursing actions to reach them.
autonomy
A person's right to make their own choices about their body and their care.
well-being
A state of being healthy, comfortable and content in body, mind and social life.