ABSTRACT
Introduction The World Health Organization defined health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In the same year, Karnofsky and Burchenal proposed a rating scale to help physicians assess the effects of treatment by comparing patient performance before and after therapeutic intervention. In 1960 the term quality of life (QOL) was used by the U.S. Presidential Commission on National Goals. In 1964 these goals were used to stimulate programs examining the QOL and needs of patients, and develop programs to improve QOL.
