Abstract
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) has been accepted as a new outcome for health care evaluation and measuring HRQOL as individual data is becoming an important issue. However, several methodological and other aspects about HRQ0Lmeasurement for individual use should be considered. Length and convenience of the measurement tool as well as sensibility and reliability should be reevaluated. For individual assessment, higher sensibility and reliability is needed than for epiderniologic use. When interpreting the results, we also should consider the effect of case mix, such as comorbidity and severity of illness, to HRQOL. Patient's practice in serial measurement is another point of methodological problems involved.
Evaluation of care services using comprehensive health index for the individuals is reasonable. Clinical application of HRQOL measurement should be enhanced by taking the above factors into consideration.
