Disease-specific scales have also been used to evaluate
quality of life, but only three of these were developed for
use across the range of CVDL-related conditions. Of these,
one has not been adequately evaluated for reliability, validity,
and responsiveness,22 and two have not been validated
Although the term "quality of life" is relatively recent, the concept of public happiness has been
popular at various periods throughout history. Philosophers have long considered happiness to be
the highest good and ultimate motivation for human action. Writings of the 18th century were filled
with discussions of the nature of happiness and the conditions of its achievement and, in 1725,
Francis Hutcheson laid the foundation for utilitarian doctrine, arguing that the best action was that
which accomplishes the greatest happiness for the largest number. The implications lor the
government's role were widely accepted. Happiness became the central concern of political
economists, who assumed that it was a measurable quantity and that governments could be judged
in terms of their success in creatitig public happiness (C2'-pbell, 1981). Even though the word
"happiness" seems to have gone out of style, the desire to, 'arn something about the way people
experience their lives has not, as can be seen by a resurgence in research investigating "well-being"
or "quality of life."