Stephen J. Walters 
Quality of Life Outcomes in Clinical Trials and Health-Care Evaluation 
A Practical Guide to Analysis and Interpretation

An essential, up-to-date guide to the design of studies and
selection of the correct Qo L instruments for observational studies
and clinical trials.

Quality of Life (Qo L) outcomes or Person/Patient Reported
Outcome Measures (PROMs) are now frequently being used in
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. This
book provides a practical guide to the design, analysis and
interpretation of studies that use such outcomes.

Qo L outcomes tend to generate data with discrete, bounded and
skewed distributions. Many investigators are concerned about the
appropriateness of using standard statistical methods to analyse
Qo L data and want guidance on what methods to use. Qo L outcomes are
frequently used in cross-sectional surveys and non-randomised
health-care evaluations.

* Provides a user-friendly guide to the design and analysis of
clinical trials and observational studies in relation to Qo L
outcomes.

* Discusses the problems caused by Qo L outcomes and presents
intervention options to help tackle them.

* Guides the reader step-by-step through the selection of
appropriate Qo Ls.

* Features exercises and solutions and a supporting website
providing downloadable data files.

Illustrated throughout with examples and case studies drawn from
the author’s experience, this book offers statisticians and
clinicians guidance on choosing between the numerous available Qo L
instruments.

About the author

Stephen J. Walters – School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield. Dr Walters has had experience both in research and teaching, and is currently the Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics at Sheffield University. He has conducted numerous grant-funded research projects, and has nearly 150 publications to his name. These include 85 articles in a range of refereed journals, 2 co-authored books, and contributed chapters in three other books.