QUALITY OF LIFE IN OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporotic hip, vertebral, and wrist fractures have dramatic effects on health-related quality of life. Health status instruments can be used in evaluating quality of life deficits resulting from osteoporotic fractures. Although several lengthy health status instruments exist, shorter questionnaires must be developed to promote health status assessments in routine clinical practice. The authors have developed the disease-targeted, mini-Osteoporotic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) to be used in clinical settings. The mini-OQLQ is extremely effective because it is self-administered and quickly completed. Information collected by health-related quality of life instruments may provide new insight as to how to improve quality of life for patients with fractures. Educational efforts are needed for health care professionals to increase the credibility of assessing health status in clinical practice.