Health Related Quality of Life and Exercise

Question 1

Define Quality of Life

Answer 1

subjective and objective evaluations of the “goodness” of one’s life overall

Question 2

Define Health Related Quality of Life

Answer 2

The goodness of those dimensions of life that can be affected by health and by health interventions

Question 3

Why is HRQofL Important to Exercise Scientists? (3)

Answer 3

1. way to gauge how effective an intervention is
2. Improvements are recognized as an important benefit of exercise
3. Knowledge of HRQofL is useful for prescribing exercise

Question 4

How can HRQofL be mesured?

Answer 4

Objective Approach
– Made by another person
– Measurable (number of lbs a person can bench press
– Quality-adjusted life years (QALY)
– Calculate a numeric value to indicate the quality of one’s remaining years of life

Subjective Approches
       – perceived level of functioning
       – satisfaction with functioning
              – perceived quality of life scale
       – proxy vs. patient measures

Question 5

What is the best way to measure HRQofL?

Answer 5

The subjective approach to measurement is the method of choice in exercise psychology and other fields
– patient’s subjective perceptions of HRQofL are most closely associated with important health-related outcomes than objective measures

Question 6

Who are the people receiving the most benefit from exercise-induced improvements to HRQofL? (3)

Answer 6

1. Healthy people
2. People living with a wide range of health-compromising conditions
3. Special populations

Question 7

What are the dimensions of HRQofL mostl likely to be affected by exercise (5)

Answer 7

1. Physical functioning
2. Health status
3. Emotional well being
4. Social functioning
5. cognitive functioning

Question 8

What are some factors that might influence the impact of Exercise on HRQofL?

Answer 8

1. Purpose of the exercise intervention
2. Perceived value of the HRQofL dimension
3. Inclusion with other HRQofL-enhancing interventions

Question 9

What is the proposed mechanism of change for improvements in HRQofL from exercise?

Answer 9

1. Changes in health and fitness status
   – a person doesn’t need to experience significant objective improvements in order to derive the HRQofL-enhancing benefits of exercise
   – HRQofL reflects perceptions of and thoughts and feelings about one’s health and functioning
2. Changes in self-efficact
   – Exercise might improve HRQofL by enhancing an individual’s belief that they can control their health

Question 10

Practical Recommendations for HRQOL

Answer 10

1. Individuals must be able to perceive improvements and realize the values of exercise
2. Should be encouraged to engage in various types of activity, as some types may affect certain components of HRQofL more than others