Dying Well : Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index

A Critical Measure for Terminal Care

Improving quality of life for patients is the primary goal for hospice care and for end-of-life care in any setting. The Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI) is specifically designed to evaluate the patient's experience of quality of life during advanced illness.

Based on Dr. Ira Byock's model of growth and development at the end of life, the MVQOLI is used both as an assessment tool to inform care planning and as an outcome measure. The instrument produces a quality of life profile for each individual patient that graphically reveals the influence of 5 domains of experience on quality of life.

Published Paper

A formal report on the development and validation of the MVQOLI is available:
Byock I., Merriman M.: Measuring quality of life for patients with terminal illness: The Missoula Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI). Palliative Medicine, V. 12, pp. 231-244, 1998.

Ira Byock, M.D.
The Palliative Care Service, Missoula, MT
PH: 406-728-8643 FAX: 406-728-4709
E-mail: IByock@aol.com
www.dyingwell.org

VITAS Healthcare Corporation
Contact: Melanie Merriman, Ph.D.
PH: 305-762-7966 FAX: 305-762-7191
E-mail: touchst@ix.netcom.com

MVQOLI : A Developmental Approach
MVQOLI: Developmental Tasks
MVQOLI : Organization of Items
MVQOLI : 15 Item Version
MVQOLI : 25 Item Version
MVQOLI : Licensing and Training
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This instrument was created by Ira Byock, MD and Melanie Merriman, PhD.
Reference: Byock IR and Merriman MP. Measuring quality of life for patients with terminal illness: the Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index. Pall. Med. 12:231-244, 1998.
For more information log on to DyingWell.org