The quality of life of patients in advanced stages of chronic illness cannot be defined independently of the patient's own experience. In order for specialists, as well as those in the patient's environment, to be helpful to the sufferer, they first need to listen to them.

The Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index was developed in 1995 by Ira Byock and serves as a tool aimed at maintaining the optimal quality of life for a patient. The patient themselves evaluates their symptoms, level of functionality, interpersonal relationships, level of well-being, and how they perceive their life and its meaning through a questionnaire. The Index aims to help healthcare professionals understand the needs and desires of patients in order to contribute to improving their quality of life. It can also be used to design palliative care for patients in hospices, hospitals, outpatient palliative care clinics, and even at home – as part of home care.

The book is aimed at nurses, social workers, and specialists in psychology and sociology, in short, all the professionals that make up a clinical team. It serves as a comprehensive guide for the use of the Quality of Life Index. Its ambition is to contribute to improving the lives of patients, centered around their own desires and needs.