Arguments are being made more frequently to incorporate economic evaluations and quality of life assessments into clinical trials. Using two randomised, multicentre trials of radiotherapy for cancer as an example, this paper outlines: (1) the importance of including such assessments; (2) the...

There is an increasing awareness within the medical profession of the need to include quality of life as well as survival as an outcome measure. This paper reviews some of the evidence which assesses the quality of life of patients with cancer of the head and neck who have undergone surgery or...

The methodology of valuing health states remains a key issue in the construction of health-related quality of life measures. Different scaling methods appear to yield different sets of valuations, and as yet there is no consensus as to which method is the preferred technique. Many of the...

There is growing recognition within the National Health Service (NHS) of the value of providing patients with information about hospital and pre- and post-operative procedures, particularly in response to concerns about quality assurance and consumer satisfaction. Moreover, there is evidence...