Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Life”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[The quality of life in asthma: an evaluation of the AQLQ questionnaire for its use on a Spanish population. Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire].

The study of morbidity in asthma requires consideration not only of standard physiopathologic and function parameters, but also of the impact the disease has on the patient's life-style as he or she perceives it and evaluates it. The quantification of this factor, known as health-related quality of life (HRQL), is achieved by administering questionnaires specially designed for the purpose. We analyzed the reliability, content validity and construct validity (convergence and divergence) of one instrument, the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) designed by Marks and colleagues. This questionnaire covers 4 dimensions (breathlessness, mood, social limitation and worrying) and gives a total score. After a process of translation and back translation the AQLQ was administered to 102 adult asthmatics living in an urban center, all of whom had been stable for at least the preceding 4 weeks. The following data were recorded: age, sex, duration of disease, FEV1, medication, dyspnea, hospital visits, nighttime symptoms and severity of disease (from the patient's own point of view and according to the scale of the International Consensus Report [ICR]). The reliability study (internal consistency with Crombach's alpha coefficient and inter-item correlation analysis) gave satisfactory results in all cases (range of r = 0.39 to 0.78; alpha = 0.78 to 0.91). Content validity (factorial analysis of the main components, oblique and orthogonal rotations) was less satisfactory, although 4 factors were found; these factors adjusted relatively well to one of the proposed sub-scales and together explained 65.2% of the total variance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of three quality of life instruments in stable angina pectoris: Seattle Angina Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Quality of Life Index-Cardiac Version III.

Three instruments for the assessment of quality of life, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Quality of Life Index-Cardiac Version III (QLI) were administered to 107 patients with stable angina pectoris in a longitudinal randomized trial comparing the use of alternative anginal medications in the management of chronic stable angina pectoris. This study demonstrated that differences in angina severity as measured by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification (CCSC) were related to each of the SAQ subscales, to selected subscales of the SF-36, but not to the QLI. All quality of life (QOL) instruments demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability when administered over a 2-week interval. Neither the SF-36 nor the QLI were discriminative of angina severity or sensitive to changes in CCSC angina classification. Both the SAQ and QLI detected changes in heart disease related QOL over time.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Quality of life evaluation in oncological clinical trials - the EORTC model. The EORTC Quality of Life Study Group.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has taken a leading role in the development of the methodology of quality of life (QL) measurement. In the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group (QLSG) valid instruments to assess QL in a general manner and disease-specific modules have been developed to be used in oncological clinical trials. Statistical and methodological aspects of QL research are discussed. The application of QL assessments in clinical trials represents a subsequent challenge. To improve the practice of QL assessment in clinical trials an 'EORTC model' has been developed. This model requires the collaboration of liaison persons, the EORTC Cooperative Tumour Groups and the EORTC Data Centre Quality of Life Unit (QL Unit). Cooperation between these parties, protocol development and advantages and concerns of the model are mentioned in this paper. Finally, suggestions for improvement are proposed.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2003

Does the impact of major stressful life events on the risk of developing depression change throughout life?

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether there is an interaction of ageing on the association between major life events and onset of depression. METHOD: This was a population-based nested case-control study with linkage of the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register and the Integrated Database for Longitudinal Labour Market Research. The study includes data on all admissions at psychiatric wards in Denmark from 1981 to 1998 and data on sociodemographic variables and death/suicide of first-degree relatives. RESULTS: A total of 13 006 patients who received a diagnosis of depression at the first ever admission at a psychiatric ward and a gender- and age-matched control group of 260 108 subjects were identified. A recent divorce and recent unemployment and suicide of a relative (mother, father, sibling, child, spouse) were associated with increased risk of being admitted for the first time ever at a psychiatric ward with a diagnosis of depression whereas death of a relative by causes other than suicide had no significant effect. In general, no interaction was found with age with any of the variables, totally, or for men or women, separately. CONCLUSIONS: The susceptibility to major life stressors does not seem to change throughout life.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Quality of life assessment in psychiatry: the Subjective Quality of Life Profile (SQLP)--first results of a new instrument.

This article describes early results of a new instrument for measuring quality of life--the French Subjective Quality of Life Profile (SQLP) questionnaire. This 36-item, self-administered questionnaire has been previously validated in a large sample population with somatic disorders. It is characterized by its multidimensional pattern and subjective approach (i.e., the degree of satisfaction with various domains of life, the degree of change anticipated and the importance attributed to these domains). The SQLP was tested with three psychiatric patient samples: people with depression, psychosis or substance abuse. Preliminary findings indicate that the questionnaire is useful in describing psychiatric patients, their characteristics, and explaining some of their changes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Quality of life and end-of-life decisionmaking.

Since 1976, when the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the Karen Ann Quinlan case (In re Quinlan, 355 A.2d 647 (NJ), 1976 cert. denied, 429 US 922, 1976), it has been apparent that the concept of quality of life is fundamental to end-of-life decisionmaking. Yet there has been a great deal of reluctance by courts--which have been the primary engine of lawmaking in end-of-life matters--to use this concept overtly.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[The quality of life of chronically ill and psychiatrically disturbed children. Initial experiences with an inventory for assessing quality of life in children and adolescents].

OBJECTIVES: The assessment of the quality of life in chronically ill children as well as in children with emotional and behavioural problems. METHODS: A series of questionnaires (Inventar zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, ILK, Mattejat et al.) were administered to 360 patients and 288 mothers at the Vienna University Children's Hospital. RESULTS: The results clearly show that patients with diabetes rate themselves as the most emotionally burdened and impaired in nearly all aspects of life: a picture which is confirmed by their mothers. Children and adolescents with psychological problems judge the initial problem as well as their social environment as significantly more burdensome. The respective mothers of these psychologically ill children feel that their impairments are greater in more aspects of life than do mothers of children who are chronically ill. The children generally pinpoint most of their difficulties in the areas "ability to occupy myself" and "psychological health". Among adolescents the most negative ratings occur in the areas "school", "psychological health", and "initial problem". CONCLUSIONS: The child's problems seem to weigh heavily upon the mothers. Interventions aimed at adolescents and mothers should be based on problem solving: supportive and anxiety-reducing approaches seem best suited for chronically ill children. Children with psychological problems primarily need problem-centred and practical support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Quality of life despite illness. How does diabetes type 2 change quality of life of patients and how can it be modified?].

UNLABELLED: The research-question, posed in this study, was: How does diabetes type 2 change the quality of life of the persons involved and how can this be influenced? As these perceptions are subjective a qualitative approach was chosen. The interpretations of the persons involved were collected by using both a focus group discussion and individual interviews. CONCLUSION: The quality of life of the persons with diabetes type 2 questioned in this study, was altered especially in the functional health area. The concepts named here, were house-keeping, nutrition and mobility. But also the area of spare-time-management with concepts as hobbies and holidays, as well as the area of control with the concept of self-control, were named as being compromised by the illness. Information was recognized as a very important influencing factor. Information can positively influence the strength of the impact of diabetes type 2 on the quality of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

Race-related stress, quality of life indicators, and life satisfaction among elderly African Americans.

This article examined the relationships among race-related stress, quality of life indicators, and life satisfaction among elderly African Americans. A sample of 127 elderly African Americans, consisting of 87 women and 26 men (and 14 missing values), were administered the Index of Race-Related Stress, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. Results indicated that elderly African American men and women differed significantly with regard to institutional and collective racism-related stress. In addition, the authors found that institutional racism-related stress was a significant predictor of psychological health in this sample of elderly African Americans.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2006

[Concepts of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. The relationship to their quantitative evaluation of quality of life].

OBJECTIVE: It is analysed whether the personal concept of what constitutes one's quality-of-life (QoL) is related to subjective QoL ratings in schizophrenic persons. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, statements of specific QoL-aspects in an open-ended interview with n=255 schizophrenic persons were correlated with subjective QoL ratings (Munich Quality of Life Dimensions List) and analysed for their predictive value by means of linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Stating the family and oral needs were positive, stating aspects of illness and negative well-being were negative predictors of subjective QoL, independent of age and gender. Substantial contributions to subjective QoL ratings were found when persons generally negated positive or, independently, generally negated negative aspects of QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of a primary social network (family), of the illness and well-being for subjective QoL ratings could be replicated. It could be shown that "oral needs" are related to subjective QoL ratings. Moreover, there is further evidence for a resigning attitude towards life in schizophrenic persons and their impact on QoL ratings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

The development and validation of a questionnaire to assess visual symptoms/dysfunction and impact on quality of life in cataract patients: the Visual Symptoms and Quality of life (VSQ) Questionnaire.

The aim of the study was to develop a new questionnaire to assess visual symptoms/dysfunction and impact on vision-specific quality of life for those undergoing second eye cataract extraction. Items for the VSQ questionnaire were devised with reference to existing literature and following consultation with eye care experts (n = 18) and interviews with cataract patients (n = 40). Piloting work conducted with 53 patients indicated that the questionnaire was promising, with a high level of internal consistency, low levels of missing data and indications that it was responsive to surgery. A modified version of the questionnaire was completed by 105 patients having received 'early' surgery and 103 scheduled for routine surgery within a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of second eye cataract surgery. Analyses showed that the internal consistency of both the visual symptoms/dysfunction and quality of life areas was high (Cronbach's alpha 0.82 and 0.83, respectively). Highly significant improvements were found for early surgery patients (p < 0.0001), with little change among routine surgery patients. Two final versions of the VSQ questionnaire have been produced for future use in assessing visual symptoms/dysfunction and impact on vision-specific quality of life: a scoreable short form and more detailed and sensitive long form.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of sexual life and satisfaction in female partners of men with ED: psychometric validation of the Index of Sexual Life (ISL) questionnaire.

Effective treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) are available, however, reestablishing erectile function does not necessarily reestablish a satisfying sexual relationship. To assess broader influences on treatment discontinuation than pure efficacy, we developed and psychometrically validated the Index of Sexual Life (ISL) to measure the impact of ED on female partners' sexuality. This 11-item instrument measures sexual life satisfaction, sexual drive and general life satisfaction. Good construct validity, criterion validity, and reproducibility were demonstrated. Female partners of men with ED report significantly lower levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual drive than those without ED. The ISL is successfully validated.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Gender differences in older adults' preferences for life-sustaining medical treatments and end-of-life values.

In the present study, we examined gender differences in preferences for life sustaining treatments in response to various health state scenarios and the endorsement of end-of-life values in 99 older adults. Men preferred life-sustaining treatments more than women overall, for specific treatments (i.e., CPR, surgery, and artificial feeding), and in response to specific health scenarios (i.e., current health, Alzheimer's disease, coma with a slight chance of recovery). In terms of values, women indicated a greater desire for a dignified death than men.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Developing a community-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire for asthma: the Asthma-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire for Native American Adults (AQLQ-NAA).

The Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire for Native American Adults (AQLQ-NAA) was developed by modifying the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-Marks (AQLQ-M) using the focus group technique. The 19-item AQLQ-NAA has emphasis on restrictions in social, community, and cultural activities. Higher scores indicate a better quality of life. The modified questionnaire was administered to a sample of 51 Native American adults with asthma at the Albuquerque USPHS Indian Hospital and its affiliated field clinics. Principal components analysis identified three domains with eigenvalues greater than 1.00: Community and Social Restrictions (CSR), Psychological Impact (PIM), and Symptoms (SYM). Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the AQLQ-NAA was 0.95 and ranged from 0.82 to 0.93 for the individual domains, indicating good internal consistency. The AQLQ-NAA score correlated negatively and significantly to urgent care visits, physician visits, and total number of medications taken for asthma in the past 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). Additionally, the AQLQ-NAA score was correlated positively and significantly to medication adherence in the past 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). Similar patterns of correlations were found with all three domain scores. These results indicated that there is evidence for the construct validity of the AQLQ-NAA and its domains. The AQLQ-NAA should provide a useful measure of HRQOL in asthma-specific medical interventions for the population in which it was developed.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Genes that prolong life: relationships of growth hormone and growth to aging and life span.

Mutant mice with a combined deficiency of growth hormone (GH), prolactin, and thyrotropin, and knockout mice with GH resistance, live longer than their normal siblings. The extension of life span in these animals is very large (up to 65%), reproducible, and not limited to any particular genetic background or husbandry conditions. In addition to demonstrating that genes control aging in mammals, these findings suggest that GH actions, growth, and body size may have important roles in the determination of life span. We describe the key phenotypic characteristics of long-living mutant and knockout mice, with an emphasis on those characteristics that may be related to delayed aging in these animals. We also address the broader topic of the relationship between GH, growth, maturation, body size, and aging, and we attempt to reconcile the well-publicized antiaging action of GH with the evidence that suppression of GH release or action can prolong life.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Life satisfaction and quality of life among disabled elderly adults.

This paper investigates predictors of life satisfaction and quality of life among severely disabled elderly adults. Markides and Martin's (1979) path analysis model was adapted specifically to elderly persons with severe disabilities. The study group comprised 97 patients discharged from three medical rehabilitation facilities in metropolitan Boston during 1984. The adapted model explained about 40% of the variance in quality of life among both men and women, with functional capacity being the most important predictor.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Assessing quality of life in leukemia: presentation of an instrument for assessing quality of life in patients with blood malignancies.

The Life Ingredient Profile (LIP)--a new instrument for iterated quality of life assessments in patients with haematological malignancies--is presented. It is intended to reflect the patient's estimation of the symptoms of disease as well as the side-effects of treatment and is designed for comparing different regimens of chemotherapy. In a pilot study of 35 patients with myeloma, lymphoma and acute leukaemia, the LIP showed good validity, reliability and sensitivity to change. It was easy to apply and the structured interviews took only 10-20 min. LIP appears to assess important dimensions of quality of life without being a burden to the patient or the nursing staff.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Whose quality of life is it anyway? The validity and reliability of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) scale.

Quality of life (QoL) is becoming an increasingly used outcome measure in both clinical practice and research. There are now more than 1000 scales available to measure QoL, and it is important that they are assessed for reliability and validity. This study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) scale, which is dementia specific and brief and uses the patient's own responses. Two separate samples of people with dementia (sample 1, n = 60; sample 2, n = 201) were assessed. Five focus groups were conducted involving both people with dementia and their caregivers; the focus groups showed that people with dementia had higher hopes for their QoL than their caregivers did for them. Questionnaires about the scale were completed by 71 health care professionals working with people with dementia. The scale was found to have good content validity with no additional items required and all items necessary. It also correlated well with the Dementia Quality of Life scale (0.69) and with the Euroqol-5D scale (0.54), indicating good criterion concurrent validity. Construct validity was also good with the principal components analysis showing all 13 items of the QoL-AD loaded on component 1. Interrater reliability was excellent with all Cohen's kappa values >0.70. Internal consistency was excellent with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. Some people with severe dementia and a Mini-Mental State Examination score as low as 3 were able to satisfactorily complete the QoL-AD. The QoL-AD has very good psychometric properties and can be completed with people with a wide range of severity of dementia.

Aged↗