Assessing Quality of Life in Oncology: A Review of Current Measurement Tools and Gaps across the Cancer Care Continuum

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) assessment has evolved into a critical component of cancer care, increasingly recognized alongside traditional clinical endpoints such as survival. This review traces the conceptual development of QoL in oncology, from symptom-focused origins to a multidimensional construct encompassing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. It examines the landscape of measurement instruments including generic tools like SF-36, cancer-specific instruments like EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-G, and digital platforms for real-time data collection highlighting their psychometric robustness and utility across the cancer care continuum. Despite methodological advances, significant implementation challenges persist, including underrepresentation of vulnerable populations, limited integration into routine clinical workflows, and gaps between measurement and actionable care. Future directions include adaptive computerized testing, AI-driven predictive analytics, and passive sensing technologies, which offer personalized, low-burden monitoring solutions. The review calls for harmonized outcome sets, stronger implementation frameworks, and inclusive, patient-centered design to fully realize QoL as a pillar of value-based, person-centered oncology.