SOME ASPECTS OF THE MEASUREMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF

QUALITY OF LIFE

Prof. Dr. Pál MOLNÁR

President and CEO of the Hungarian National Committee for EOQ, Hungary,
molnar@eoq.hu

Abstract

Quality of life is already a priority issue for many countries. Taking into account
important and generally accepted philosophical aspects of quality – Quality of Life – is
perceived in different ways, mainly in accordance with qualifications and preferences of
researchers studying this subject. It is considered not only a philosophical but also a
sociological category, including following disciplines: medicine, social psychology,
ecology as well as organisation and management science, especially quality
management.
It may be concluded that the quality of life is the most important variant that can be
considered as a factor stimulating development of the society.
Conceptualisations and measurement of quality of life is difficult. Thus, there are many
approaches to provide general definitions of this term. In this contexts, quality is a very
complicated and subjective issue – difficult to measure, since on the one hand it defines
successes and satisfaction, but on the other hand – a lack of satisfaction in case when a
person has no successes at work or in private life.

Keywords: Quality of Life, Improvement, Measurement

Introduction
Quality of life is already a priority issue for many countries. The next step , imposed by the search for
peace and sustainable development in a global world , is quality of relations among all the world
actors. A problem, but also an opportunity for quality professionals, since reaching the target require
action on many, huge areas (e.g. public administration, natural and cultural heritage
protection/development, eco- and cultural-tourism, etc.).
Quality concepts and methods can be applied to any area of human organised activities. For this
reason Quality thinking must be extended at least in two important directions:
− Contribution of Quality to the Preservation of the World
− Quality of Life of the Human Being.
In many countries there has been observed recently a distinct increase of interest in quality of life
issues and knowledge development in this field. Humanity strives to improve the quality of life since
the dawn of time. The quality of life is a philosophical category like quality itself.
Quality of life the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people. Unlike standard of
living, quality of life is not a tangible concept, and therefore cannot be measured directly.
Furthermore, quality of life consists of two components. The first is a physical aspect that includes
such things as health, diet, as well as protection against pain and disease. The second component is
psychological in nature. This aspect includes such things as stress, worry, pleasure, satisfaction and
other positive or negative emotional states. It is virtually impossible to predict the quality of a specific
individual, since the combination of attributes that leads one individual to be content is rarely the
same for another individual. However, one can assume with some confidence the higher average level
of diet, shelter, safety, as well as freedoms and rights a general population has, the better overall
quality of life said population experiences.
Quality of life is discussed from many aspects and perspectives, e.g. GDP, Human Resource
Management, Sustainability, Diet, Health, Safety, Security, etc. Understanding quality of life is today
particularly important in health care, where monetary measures do not readily apply (Bradley, C. and
Speight, J. 2002).

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Aspects of Quality of Life most frequently considered
The quality can be determined at the following levels :
− Product (Labour) Quality
− Process Quality
− Quality of Innovation
− Quality of the Company
− Quality of Life
If we agree to extend quality without any limitation we have to get new levels including several
additional criteria (Fig.1).
Objective:
Environmental Conditions
Rapid Change

Competitive
Quality Society Fitnes
Quality of the of Life Competitive
Landscape
Periods of

Company Fitnes
Quality of Fitness for
Innovation Exploration
Process
Stability

Fitness for
Quality Production
Product
Quality Fitness
for use

Increasing fitness
Fig.1.: Evolution in the Concept of Quality

Taking into account important and generally accepted philosophical aspects of quality − Quality of
Life − is perceived in different ways, mainly in accordance with qualifications and preferences of
researchers studying this subject. It is considered to be not only a philosophical but also a sociological
category, including the following disciplines: medicine, social psychology, ecology as well as
organization and management science, especially quality management.
Based on generally used definitions, the quality of life (Qi) can be defined as a degree at which the
requirements, determining the developments of society are met. It can be assumed that quality of life
depends on the following components that probably represent the main life domains (Kolman, R.,
1980):
− Family life (relations and situation in the family)
− Psychological well-being (psychological structure of a man)
− Functional factors (employment)
− Somatic factors (physical health)
− Environmental factors (cooperation with the environments)
− Existence factors (conditions of life)
Calvert-Henderson published in book format and also on the website following 12 Quality of Life
Indicators:
− Education
− Employment
− Energy
− Environment
− Health
− Human Rights
− Income
− Infrastructure
− National Security

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− Public Safety
− Re-Creation
− Shelter
The Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators are a contribution to the worldwide effort to
develop comprehensive statistics of national well-being that go beyond traditional macroeconomic
indicators. A system approach is used to illustrate the dynamic state of quality of life.
It can be also assumed that a set of quality criteria (k) is coupled with each of the mentioned domains
of life and that the range of quality of life issues comprises all matters a person faces every day. It
may be concluded that the quality of life is the most important variant of quality, which can be
considered as a factor stimulating development of the society. The quality of life issues are described
from the point of view of different disciplines of knowledge: philosophy, sociology (including
medicine), social psychology, economy, as well as organization and management.

Measurement and Improvement of Quality of Life

Conceptualisations and measurement of quality of life is difficult. Thus, there are many approaches to
provide general definitions of this term. In this contexts, quality is a very complicated and subjective
issue − difficult to measure, since on the one hand it defines successes and satisfaction, but on the
other hand − a lack of satisfaction in case when a person has no successes at work or in private life.
Thus, barriers appear in the analytical approach to this problem. Let's refer to the words of Kelvin:
"When you can measure what you are talking about, and express it in numbers, you know something
about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is
of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind" (Molnár, P., 1984). Nevertheless, attempts to develop a uniform
method of measuring factors, which determine quality of life, have been undertaken (Zysnarska, E.,
2003). For example − when considering quality of life from the viewpoint of economy − this problem
is suggested to be solved by effective allocation of resources and fair distribution of goods and
services among different representatives of society, using principles of economy of social welfare.
Apart from the economic, there are also other aspects like humanistic, social and ecological to be
taken into account. The impact of the development of information society should be stressed, too
(Tkaczyk, St., 2007).
Culture, in its wide meaning, including among others, mutually accepted ways of behaviour,
practices, customs, self-control in diversified groups of people, full of tensions and turbulences − has
a great impact on quality of life. It may have a positive or negative influence on self-realization of a
person in a certain society, organization or on a wider scale − in a country. This refers to philosophy
and method of TQM, which in fact was developed based on the policy of organization. It concentrates
on client needs and satisfaction, with the attention paid to general social matters. Such idea of the
quality of life from the medical sociology point of view is being developed, especially in American
centres.
The Economist Intelligence Unit has developed a new “quality of life” index based on a unique
methodology that links the result of subjective life-satisfaction surveys to the objectives determinants
of quality of life across countries. The 7 quality-of-life factors, and the indicators used to represent
these factors, are the followings:
1. Material Well-being: GDO per person (weight: 18,8%)
2. Health: Life expectancy at birth, years (weight: 19,0%)
3. Family Relations: Divorce rate per 1000 population (weight: 11,3%)
4. Job Security: Unemployment rate in % (weight: 7,7%)
5. Social and Community Activities: Dummy variable taking value 1 if country has either high rate of
church attendance or trade-union membership; 0 otherwise (weight: 12,2%)
6. Political freedom and security: Political stability and security ratings (weight: 26,2%)
7. Gender equality: Ratio of average male and female earning, latest available data (4,7%)
It has long been accepted that material well-being, as measured by GDP per person, cannot alone
explain the broader quality of life in a country. There have been numerous attempts to construct
alternative, non-monetary indices of social and economic well-being by combining in a single statistic
a variety of different factors that are thought to influence quality of life. It is more adequate to call as

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Life Satisfaction Index. This kind of surveys ask people the simple question: how satisfied they are
with their lives in general.
In conclusion, the holistic approach to all phenomena being in contemporary behavioural sciences
requires the use of a category, which would allow to present the analysed problem in the most
comprehensive way. This refers also to quality of life issue, based on the value hierarchy of each
individual in the society. The main assumptions of qualimetrics are taken into consideration in this
approach:

k l m n

Q = w ∑w • z
L 1 1j 1j
+ w2 ∑w • z 2j 2j
+ w3 ∑ w3 j • z 3 j + w4 ∑w • z 4j 4j
+
j =1 j = k +1 j =l +1 j = m +1
p r
+ w5 ∑ w5 j • z5 j + w6 ∑w • z 6j 6j
(in %) (1)
j = n +1 j = p +1

where
QL = Quality of Life Index in %
w1, w2, w3 = Weighting factors for a Group of components whose sum being equal to 1 for each
measurement.
w1j, w2j, w3j = Weighting factors for components within the same group, whose sum being equal to 1
within the same group.
z1j, z2j, z3j = Normalized value between 0 and 1;
k, l, m = Number of components
The level of the components within the groups can be reviewed by a basic scoring method.
The basic scoring method can be used according to following simple scale:
Excellent – 5
Very good – 4
Good –3
Fair –2
Poor -1
Also more complicated scoring method can be developed and used. Especially for the somatic factors
(physical health) special methods are existing (EuroQoL, 2008).
For the differentiated numerical measurement of quality of life following general task should be
resolved:
− Selection of the most important components and subcomponents of quality of life;
− Development of the measurement methods;
− Transformation formulas for the data and normalisation of the data between 0 to 1,0;
− Weighting of the components and subcomponents
− Calculation of the Life Quality Indices;
− Determination of the error of the measurement;
− Classification of the results on the basis of the calculated indices.

Practical Aspects of Quality of Life

Many approaches to the problem of quality of life, from the point of view of practice concentrate on
social, economic and quality management aspects. They fall in line with the presented theoretical
assumption.
When considering social and economic aspects − there is possible, as mentioned before, self-
realization of a person and experiencing satisfaction from achievements or possession important
possibilities of his or her life. An example, concerning measurement of the degree of satisfaction,
delivered by an organization is recalled, in which the elements of productivity are taken into account.
From analytical point of view, this aspect is much deeper − since it comprises the analysis of
psychological well-being of a person, including the feeling of freedom, which allows the
implementation of useful and conscious tasks.

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The improvement of the quality of life can be achieved in different manner. All components can be
developed which lead to higher satisfaction and increase the value of the Quality of Life Index.
Because quality of life is a uniquely personal perception, denoting the way that individual patients
feel about their health status and/or non-medical aspects of their lives, most measurements of quality
of life in the medical literature seem to aim at the wrong target. Quality of life can be suitably
measured only by determining the opinions of patients and by supplementing (or replacing) the
instruments developed by “experts”.
Summarizing, it may be assumed in conclusion that an organization, based on TQM philosophy and
method supports self-realization and development of its members, it should also be mentioned that
stressing the importance of quality of life of the members of an organization plays an important role
as so called „promotion medium” in the creation of a positive image of this organization.
Shortly, some assumptions of a strategy of development of an urban organization are as follows:
− From the fact, that the city was founded for its inhabitants, high quality of people’s life and its
continuous improvement must be the essential element of the strategy of the city.
− The element of quality of life − feeling of safety in the face of health hazard or property, social or
economic safety − is the leading one for inhabitants.
− Significant increase of average salaries is another important element.
The presented strategy, consisting of elements of classical strategy plan of organization is concluded
in the following way: „to make quality of life become one of the important criteria − the monitoring
of the quality of life is necessary, measured by use of suitable measures and also subjective
impression of inhabitants.”

Some Conclusions
As presented in the introduction people have been striving to improve the quality of life since the
dawn of time. The philosophical aspects of quality of life are supplemented by technosophy, too.
Thus, the research on the important problem of quality of life, bothering humankind for ages, which
defines a nihilistic approach to life, has been continuing.
From the cognitive point of view, research is carried out in different aspects of knowledge,
philosophy, sociology, including medicine, social psychology, economy, as well as organization and
management disciplines, especially quality management.
The researchers in qualitology and qualimetry, have assigned the quality of life term to quality
management problems on level of the society. Thus, it is placed in the area of strategic management,
where the strategic plan of organization serves as an important tool, which outlines the chances of
functioning and development of the organization as well as its members. Assuming that all the
activities of an organization are developed by a man, quality of life is an indicator, defining his or her
total possibilities of self-realization, which may be satisfying or not.
The above mentioned, proves the importance of the studied problem with regard to the organization
and its members and necessity to consider it in different aspects, including different disciplines of
knowledge.
LITERATURE
Bradley, C. and Speight, J.: Patient Perception of Diabetes and Diabetes Therapy: Assessing Quality
of Life. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 18 (2002) Suppl 3:S64-9.
Kolman, R.: Labour quality − quality of life. Problems of Quality 3 (1980) 3
Molnár, P.: The Design and Practical Use of an Overall Quality Index for Food Products.
Acta Alimentaria 13 (1984) 3, 215−228
Zysnarska, E.: Measurement of the quality of life.
Materials of Economy Department of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, 2003
Tkaczyk, St.: Quality of life − theory and practice.
Material for International Conference Quality of Life, 1, Lublin 2007, 229
An instrument to describe and value health.
EuroQoL Plenary Meeting, Baveno, Italy, September 11−13, 2008
Chris Lucas: Quality of Life http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_Life
http://www.calvert-henderson.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality of Life index