Quality of life is widely discussed today as an important outcome vari
able in health care. The scientific interest focussing during most of
the 20th century on illness enlarges its scope and includes well-being
as an important goal and concept. Hence, quality of life (QoL) as a m
easure of well-being was included in many studies, but mostly determin
ed by the purpose of the study and the external investigators. In orde
r to weigh subjective needs and desires adequately, the Schedule for E
valuation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) was developed. This a
nalysis is obtained from parameters chosen by the explored subject or
patient himself. With the help of structured questions, the relevant d
imensions of well-being for a given person are identified and put into
context to the actually experienced situation. This method allows the
sensitive detection of changes over time, and as a consequence of cha
nges in life circumstances. It goes beyond the simple determination of
health status and rather reflects the current state of the person as
a whole.