New WHO study asks, 'How happy are you with your lot in life?'

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New WHO study asks, 'How happy are you with your lot in life?'

16 Nov 2004 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16397

Researchers are asking people throughout Britain to describe how happy

they are with their lot in life to help improve the effect of the

healthcare they receive.

The researchers have set up an online survey to collect information on

the factors that contribute to the quality of life of people in Britain.

The results will be used to create a survey that doctors can use to

assess a patient's perception of their quality of life and work out the

potential impact of medical intervention on their everyday lives.

This is important because a person's perception of their quality of life

can, for example, influence how quickly they recover from an operation

or make a difference to the psychological impact they experience when

they become ill.

In the U.S. for example, the availability of accessible health and

social care is one of the most important influences on quality of life, "

said Professor Skevington, who heads the WHO Field Center for the Study

of Quality of Life at the University of Bath. " It is not so much a

country's standard of living that has an affect on quality of life, but

more the meaning that these resources have for your life. For example,

extensive living space is important in the U.S. but is less important in

Japan, an equally developed country. "

The on-line survey, which is sponsored by the World Health Organization

(WHO) and the European Commission, asks people questions about their

experiences over a two-week period, their ability to do activities and

their satisfaction with various important aspects of their life.

Respondents will then be able to print out a quality of life profile

that includes a graphical analysis of their physical health,

psychological well being, social relationships, environment and overall

quality of life.

" Surgeons tell us that they can do exactly the same procedure on two

similar people, but whilst one is back at work within a week, the other

can become depressed and disabled by their situation. It is the

patient's perception of how the operation affects them that is the

greatest influence on the difference, " said Skevington.

" In a nutshell, quality of life is about people's perception of their

position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in

which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards

and concerns, " said Skevington. " This survey is also a useful tool for

people to take stock of how they perceive their own quality of life and

look for areas where they can redress any unbalance that may exist. "

The survey questionnaire - the WHOQOL - has been developed over the last

decade through a collaboration of researchers and clinicians with focus

groups of users throughout the world, to take into account of nuances in

people's perception of life quality evident in different cultures,

religions and other belief systems. This has helped to highlight the

differences in perceptions of quality of life in different cultures and

countries. Skin color in India can affect a person's quality of life,

feeling secure is important to Israelis, while in the UK simply feeling

'fed up' can have a detrimental effect on life quality.

Global studies have already found that in Britain, a person's perception

of a high quality life is closely linked to their feelings of happiness

and contentment.

However, in other cultures happiness comes out as low as 17th, among the

25 aspects of quality of life that were measured.

To view the survey visit: http://www.bath.ac.uk/whoqol/questionnaires