Quality of Life Research, 1, pp. 341-348
Special report
Nursing
research
into quality
of life
G. V. Padilla,* M. M. Grant and B. Ferrell School of Nursing, Factor Building, Room 2-244, University of California Los Angeles, 10933 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1702, USA (G. V. Padilla); Department of Nursina Research and Education, CitvI of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA (M. M. Grand, B. Ferrell). This report describes the scope of nursing research in the area of quality of life. The strategy used to identify research reports relied heavily on nursing publications included In the Cumulative index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) from 9993 (when the database first included the subject, quality of life) to December, 1991. During this period, over 1,099 references concerning quality of life can be identified through a key-word search of the data set. Nursing investigators defined quality of life in terms of psychological, physical, social/interpersonal, and financial/material well-being. Nursing instruments have been developed to measure one or more of these dlmensions of the concept. Nursing journals like Advances in Nursing Science (1985), Seminars in Oncohgy Nursing (1990), and Progfwss in Card~ovascular &using (1992) dedicated whole issues to the topic. Major nursing associations have supported conferences/talks (American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Santa Fe, NM, 1991; Oncology Nursing Society, Fall Institute, Annual Quality of Life Lectureship) and provided awards on the subject (Oncology Nursing Society Annual Quality of Life Research Award). The National Center for Nursing Research is launching an Intramural programme to address quality of life questions. Key words: Arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular, measurement, nursing research, quality of life, questionnaires, research instruments, well-being.
Introduction This report describes the scope of nursing research in the area of quality of life. Nursing research publications are broadly defined to include nursing studies, reviews, concept papers, policy and ethic papers, and other activities that address quality of life. The strategy used to identify these reports relied heavily on nursing publications included in the Cumulative Index for Nursing and AZZied Health Literature from 1983 to December, 1991.l The report also provides a few examples of *To whom correspondence should be addressed. @ 1992 Rapid Communications of Oxford Ltd
nursing studies published outside of this database. While the latter represent very important nursing contributions to quality of life, precise identification of all nursing studies in other databases is beyond the scope of this paper. Other databases might include Index Medicus, Psychological Abstracts, etc or their on-line counterparts, Medline, Psychinfo, etc. 2,3 This report also discusses some important nursing conferences, awards and books concerning quality of life. The research reported here is based primarily in the US.
Development of nursing interest in quality of life The Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) introduced the subject heading, quality of life, in 1983. In contrast, the Medline database introduced the same subject heading in 1975, while Index Medicus introduced it in 1977. CINAHL accesses over 270 nursing journals from around the world as well as nursing articles from 2,700 allied health and biomedical journals in Index Medicus, publications from professional nursing associations, and primary journals from 13 allied health disciplines. In addition, CINAHL includes abstracts of nursing doctoral dissertations. ’ In 1985 Advances in Nursing Science dedicated an issue to Quality of Life.4 This issue focused on the phenomenological perspective in the explanation, prediction, and understanding of the concept in nursing, ’ the development of an instrument to measure quality of life,6 the notion that producing and maintaining a state of primitive pleasure is a nursing goaL quality of life as an outcome measure in nursing research,’ an examination of the health of immigrant women,9 and self-esteem in later life. lo In 1988 Frank-Stromborg edited a book on Instruments fir Clinical Nursing Research.” Quality Quality of Life Research . Vol I a1992 341
G. V. Padilla, MM.
Grant and B. Ferrell
of life instruments were discussed in two chapters. One chapter was dedicated to single” and another to multiple measures l3 of quality of life. This book has sold widely and has served to disseminate information about quality of life measures in nursing. In 1987, nursing played a prominent role in the review of quality of life instruments for use in cancer clinical trials. This led to the introduction of quality of life measures in cancer clinical trials in the Southwest Oncology Group in 1988.14
Special report
Nursing
research
into quality
of life
G. V. Padilla,* M. M. Grant and B. Ferrell School of Nursing, Factor Building, Room 2-244, University of California Los Angeles, 10933 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1702, USA (G. V. Padilla); Department of Nursina Research and Education, CitvI of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA (M. M. Grand, B. Ferrell). This report describes the scope of nursing research in the area of quality of life. The strategy used to identify research reports relied heavily on nursing publications included In the Cumulative index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) from 9993 (when the database first included the subject, quality of life) to December, 1991. During this period, over 1,099 references concerning quality of life can be identified through a key-word search of the data set. Nursing investigators defined quality of life in terms of psychological, physical, social/interpersonal, and financial/material well-being. Nursing instruments have been developed to measure one or more of these dlmensions of the concept. Nursing journals like Advances in Nursing Science (1985), Seminars in Oncohgy Nursing (1990), and Progfwss in Card~ovascular &using (1992) dedicated whole issues to the topic. Major nursing associations have supported conferences/talks (American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Santa Fe, NM, 1991; Oncology Nursing Society, Fall Institute, Annual Quality of Life Lectureship) and provided awards on the subject (Oncology Nursing Society Annual Quality of Life Research Award). The National Center for Nursing Research is launching an Intramural programme to address quality of life questions. Key words: Arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular, measurement, nursing research, quality of life, questionnaires, research instruments, well-being.
Introduction This report describes the scope of nursing research in the area of quality of life. Nursing research publications are broadly defined to include nursing studies, reviews, concept papers, policy and ethic papers, and other activities that address quality of life. The strategy used to identify these reports relied heavily on nursing publications included in the Cumulative Index for Nursing and AZZied Health Literature from 1983 to December, 1991.l The report also provides a few examples of *To whom correspondence should be addressed. @ 1992 Rapid Communications of Oxford Ltd
nursing studies published outside of this database. While the latter represent very important nursing contributions to quality of life, precise identification of all nursing studies in other databases is beyond the scope of this paper. Other databases might include Index Medicus, Psychological Abstracts, etc or their on-line counterparts, Medline, Psychinfo, etc. 2,3 This report also discusses some important nursing conferences, awards and books concerning quality of life. The research reported here is based primarily in the US.
Development of nursing interest in quality of life The Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) introduced the subject heading, quality of life, in 1983. In contrast, the Medline database introduced the same subject heading in 1975, while Index Medicus introduced it in 1977. CINAHL accesses over 270 nursing journals from around the world as well as nursing articles from 2,700 allied health and biomedical journals in Index Medicus, publications from professional nursing associations, and primary journals from 13 allied health disciplines. In addition, CINAHL includes abstracts of nursing doctoral dissertations. ’ In 1985 Advances in Nursing Science dedicated an issue to Quality of Life.4 This issue focused on the phenomenological perspective in the explanation, prediction, and understanding of the concept in nursing, ’ the development of an instrument to measure quality of life,6 the notion that producing and maintaining a state of primitive pleasure is a nursing goaL quality of life as an outcome measure in nursing research,’ an examination of the health of immigrant women,9 and self-esteem in later life. lo In 1988 Frank-Stromborg edited a book on Instruments fir Clinical Nursing Research.” Quality Quality of Life Research . Vol I a1992 341
G. V. Padilla, MM.
Grant and B. Ferrell
of life instruments were discussed in two chapters. One chapter was dedicated to single” and another to multiple measures l3 of quality of life. This book has sold widely and has served to disseminate information about quality of life measures in nursing. In 1987, nursing played a prominent role in the review of quality of life instruments for use in cancer clinical trials. This led to the introduction of quality of life measures in cancer clinical trials in the Southwest Oncology Group in 1988.14
