Terms starting with Q

Qualitative Variable

A qualitative variable, also called a categorical variable, is a variable that isn’t numerical, but instead fits into discrete categories. For example, under the category of eye color, qualitative variables would include: blue, green, brown, hazel, etc.



Quality Assurance

Quality assurance is a systematic approach to ensure that information from a clinical study is generated, documented, and reported in compliance with the study's protocol and good clinical practice standards. (NIH)



Quality Control

Quality control consist of operational techniques and activities that verify that the requirements for the quality of study-related activities have been fulfilled (e.g., data and form checks, monitoring by study staff, routine reports, correction actions, etc.)



Quality Control Review (QC Review)

A quality control review is a limited review of submitted study records conducted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The NLM looks for errors, deficiencies, or inconsistencies and report these directly to the study sponsor or investigator. (CTG)



Quality of Life (QoL)

Quality of life refers to an individual's physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs, acknowledgment of and interaction with their immediate environment, and other factors that effect the quality of day-to-day living.



Quality of Life Trials

Quality of life trials evaluate treatments and interventions to improve the comfort and quality of life of people with a chronic illness such as cancer (i.e., reducing side effects of a treatment).



Quantitative Variable

A quantitative variable is a quantity that can be measured numerically to reflect a quantity or amount (e.g., height, weight, etc.).