Using subjective health assessments in practice and policy-making.

This paper discusses the use of subjective health assessment in medical practice and social policy-making. The importance of recognising patients' perceptions of their health when attempting to improve patient-practitioner relationships and formulate effective health care policies is stressed. The paper describes some of the tensions that exist between objective and subjective assessments of health. It is argued that there is a need for unifying theory to underpin the use of subjective health perceptions. Suggestions are made for the effective employment of these indicators.