Pediatric health-related quality-of-life measurement technology: Intersections between science, managed care, and clinical care

The demand for health care outcomes assessment is increasing, driven by the proliferation of managed care as a form of health care financing. Provider s, consumers, and payers can use health care outcomes to improve the effici ency and quality of care, spur performance improvement, and demonstrate acc ountability. This review introduces health outcomes and focuses on one part icular outcome-pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQOL), exemplifie d by the PedsQL(TM), a brief, practical, reliable, valid, and responsive me asure of pediatric HRQOL. HRQOL measurement has the potential, in pediatric clinical practice, to improve assessment, clinical management, and treatme nt evaluation if practical, conceptual, and empirical challenges are addres sed. These issues are discussed and directions for future research are desc ribed that would demonstrate the value of HRQOL measurement in pediatric cl inical settings.