Health and QOL Outcomes: How do medical students value health - evaluation of hypothetical health states compared to the general population

1477-7525-6-111.pdf (application/pdf Object)

In a recent European survey on the acceptance of quality of life measurement between 72-90% of
the physicians accepted quality of life (QoL) as an outcome measure, however with less than 50%
accepting the concept of quality adjusted life years (including utility measurement) [2]. In a similar
survey in the United States and Canada only about one third of the physicians had ever collected
data on quality of life or had taken it systematically into account in clinical decision making [3].
Medical students gain a different perspective on health problems during their medical education by developing the role of a medical doctor. The participation in a health state
valuation task potentially allows them to reflect on a patients’ perspective on decision making when
being confronted with hypothetical health states. Further it has been acknowledged that there is a
need for health related quality of life education in medical school [4]......Futures studies should investigate the change of health states valuations of health care professionals over the period of their medical training.