A new comprehensive report on methods used to track health status and quality of life has just been published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Measuring Healthy Days: Population Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life describes the validity and use of a set of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) survey measures developed by CDC and its partners. These measures are used to track population health status and HRQOL in States and local communities.
Tracking HRQOL in populations can identify subgroups with poor health, identify unmet needs and
disparities, and guide policies or broad community interventions to improve health. Health officials can use these measures and data to more fully assess the public's health and guide the overall attainment of the Healthy People 2010 goals of improving the quality and years of life and eliminating health disparities.
Since 1993, a set of four Healthy Days measures have been used to assess self-rated health, recent physical and mental health, and recent activity limitation, for over 1 million adults in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and since 2000 for all participants aged 12 years and older in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Select HRQOL for a copy of the PDF report. The Web site also includes key findings related to HRQOL and links to community, State, and private organizations that have used these measures for population health assessment and policy development.
For help in using the Healthy Days measures, please contact the Division of Adult and Community Health at (770) 488-5464, E-mail rmk4@cdc.gov, or write to Rosemarie Kobau, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Mailstop K-45, Atlanta, GA 30341.
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