engleski

Some components of quality of life in palliative care

Quality of life (QoL) is an interdisciplinary concept covering several research areas in social and natural sciences. It has been studied by scientists of different research backgrounds and education. The World Health Organisation introduced the quality of life concept when defining the health as "a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Despite the development of its concept there is a lack of consensus about the definition of the quality of life itself. Haas QoL model may be used when the needs of the palliative care patients are investigated. This helpful model is based on multidimensional and dynamic analysis of four main QoL components - physical, psychological, social and spiritual. Subjective component of well being is a primary QoL indicator affecting all four components. Satisfaction in life, that arises from the functional status, is a second important indicator that affects the sense of ones well being. Consequently, it can be said that the quality of life evolves from the individual's present living conditions within the framework of his/her perceptions of being. The aim of the palliative care is to ensure that the best possible quality of life is provided to the patient until the end of life. The quality of life varies during the disease, and in its critical stage it is strongly affected by incurable state of the disease, unsuccessful medical treatment, relapses threatening life and transition from the successful curative treatment to the supporting medical care that includes pain relief procedures. Living with incurable disease at the end of life creates a complex situation for the patients and their families because of constant and often unpredictable changes in patient's status and needs - which affecs both the patient and the family members. The aim of the present study is to investigate principal QoL components, analyse main factors affecting the quality and length of life in palliative care settinggs and discuss the evaluation of the quality of life issues.

quality of life; component; palliatie care; evaluation

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