Overview

One of the fundamental aims of nursing is to safeguard or promote patients' ""quality of life"". In this text, the author examines existing ways of defining the concept and argues that nurses need to adopt a fresh approach, which more accurately reflects patients' concerns and helps them to develop practical ways of promoting the well-being of people in their care. Part one provides an analysis of statistical approaches to quality of life, including social indicators, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), and the medical outcomes literature. In part two the author proposes an alternative, qualitative approach to organizing care, which respects the patients' choice and individuality. Part three presents the findings of new research into the quality of life of older people in hospital wards.

Full Product Details

Author:   Peter Draper
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.292kg
ISBN:  

9780415141703

ISBN 10:   0415141702
Pages:   200
Publication Date:   01 May 1997
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introduction Part I The concept of quality of life and its use in health research 1 Introducing quality of life 2 Social indicators of quality of life 3 The quality adjusted life year (QALY) 4 Quality of life and medical research 5 The social scientific approach to quality of life: positivism and it limits Part II Quality of life and nursing practice: philosophy and methods 6 The case for a nursing approach to quality of life 7 Hermeneutics: a philosophical basis for the study of quality of life Part III Quality of life: a nursing perspective 8 Research decisions 9 Being at home: the relationship of places and personal possessions to quality of life 10 Being an individual 11 Organising care to promote quality of life 12 Conclusion: quality of life and its contribution to nursing practice

Reviews

'This excellent book would be of value to all nurses interested in quality issues and in nursing's contribution to health care provision.' - Journal of Community Nursing 'I find it refreshing when authors challenge the prevailing wisdom of established views on important issues. Draper does this in relation to quality of life ... I congratulate him for raising awareness of issues that may not occupy the everyday thinking of nurses.' - Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 'An invaluable resource for nurses interested in promoting the quality of life of their patients ... both stimulating and interesting, and should encourage nurses to critically examine their practice and promote clinical effectiveness.' - Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing

Author Information

Peter Draper is Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Hull

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