OVERVIEW OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE MEASURES FOR PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS - APPLICATION IN THE ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC AND PHARMACOECONOMIC OUTCOMES

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important dimension in as sessing health care. Several methodologic considerations are related t o the manner in which these data are obtained in children. Few multidi mensional generic measures of quality of life (QOL) have been develope d for children and adolescents. Most published research concerns the d evelopment of tools to be used in a disease-specific manner for clinic al trials. Although several authors point out numerous advantages in a ssessing HRQOL in clinical practice, several barriers must be overcome for this to occur. In the current era of economic restraint, HRQOL me asures must be integrated into pharmacoeconomic analyses to assess ful ly the impact of a drug on health care resources and outcomes.