Quality of life assessment in oral health

Abstract

The importance of subjective indicators in the evaluation of medical care has received increasing attention. Typical subjective indicators include quality of life (QOL), symptoms, and satisfaction, among others. Although QOL is a widely used term, not all disciplines define and conceptualize it in the same way.

This article aims to improve the understanding of oral-related QOL and QOL assessment as clinical outcome measures. We explain the definition of oral-related QOL and the importance of QOL assessment. We describe the process of developing scales for QOL assessment, including essential points for QOL assessment. It will become increasingly necessary to conduct appropriate QOL assessments that are informed by the characteristics of QOL and to incorporate the results into various areas of practice and society.