Zhao, LiChan, Kelvin C.2008-06-102008-06-102005The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 33(6): 897-9020192-415X1635544610.1142/S0192415X05003533http://hdl.handle.net/2436/29758This paper describes the methods and theories of patient-reported outcomes, in particular to the health-related quality of life recently applied in Chinese medicine research. It begins with an investigation of the reasons for a patient-reported outcomes measure for Chinese medicine and the development of a new health-related quality of life instrument based on Chinese culture and Chinese medicine. Discussions on the importance and application of patient-reported outcomes as well as the relationship between quality of life and Chinese medicine are at the focus of this paper. Through a description of the Chinese Quality of Life Instrument and its development, the present work demonstrates an evidence-based approach using patient-reported outcomes or health-related quality of life measures to evaluate treatment efficacy of Chinese medicine, and thereby build a bridge for the integration of Chinese medicine into mainstream health care.enChinese medicineHerbal medicineChinese Quality of Life Instrument (ChQOL)Plants, MedicinalChinese herbsChinaHumansMedicine, Chinese TraditionalOutcome Assessment (Health Care)Primary Health CarePsychometricsQuality of LifeQuestionnairesJournal articleThe American Journal of Chinese Medicine