Quality of life in persons with non-small cell lung cancer: a concept analysis

Quality of life, as a concept, has received increased attention in recent years. In fact, issues related to quality of life have been identified as among the top three priorities for research by the Oncology Nursing Society. Several nurse investigators have underscored the importance of quality of life research as an outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions. Given its significance in contemporary nursing practice, a clear understanding of the definition and dimensions of quality of life is essential for future development of an empirical knowledge base for practice. This article presents a concept analysis of quality of life as it relates to the health care of individuals with non-small cell lung cancer. An evolutionary method of concept analysis is used as a guide for examining the historical context of the concept, defining the concept, identifying antecedents, recognizing consequences, and distinguishing related concepts. A theoretical model of health-related quality of life is proposed on the basis of this analysis, and future directions for research in this population are discussed.