Measuring and improving quality of life

Measuring and monitoring quality of life (QOL) in ESRD may contribute to more patient-centered care and higher-quality care. This chapter reviews unique issues impacting the QOL of patients with ESRD. It reviews the literature comparing QOL of patients receiving renal replacement therapies through different dialysis modalities. There is a detailed discussion of strategies to assess QOL and issues related to its measurement. The chapter also reviews the literature on interventions designed to improve QOL and concludes with recommendations and future directions of the field.