Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “social functioning”

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
PubMed2001

Predictors of improvement in health-related quality of life among elderly patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is the most prevalent disabling psychiatric syndrome of aging and may lead to important decrements in the elderly depressed patient's health-related quality of life (HRQL). The goal of this study was to determine whether severity of chronic illness at admission, severity of depressive symptoms at admission, or living alone before admission was associated with lack of improvement in HRQL at 3 months postdischarge among elderly depressed inpatients. METHODS: Subjects were 100 consecutive patients admitted to a 26-bed inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit from 1994 through 1997, who were residing in the community and were not demented. At admission, severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale and severity of chronic physical illness was measured using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (Geriatrics). HRQL was assessed at admission and again at 3 months postdischarge using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 6-Item General Health Survey. RESULTS: This study found large improvements in all MOS items between admission and 3 months postdischarge. Severity of chronic physical disease was negatively associated with the probability of improvement in three MOS items (role functioning, psychological functioning, and general health perceptions) whereas the severity of depressive symptoms on admission was negatively associated with the probability of improvement in role functioning, social functioning, and bodily pain. Living alone was negatively associated with social functioning but not with any of the other MOS items. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the inpatient treatment of depression in the elderly brings about improvements in quality of life that persist for at least 3 months following discharge. The patient's initial level of depression and initial level of physical health may be important factors to be considered when evaluating a patient's prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Impact of gastrostomy tube feeding on the quality of life of carers of children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the impact of gastrostomy tube feeding on the quality of life of carers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Short-Form 36 version II was used to measure quality of life in carers of 57 Caucasian children with CP (28 females, 29 males; median age 4y 4mo, range 5mo to 17y 3mo) six and 12 months after insertion of a gastrostomy tube. Responses were calibrated against a normative dataset (Oxford Healthy Life Survey III). Six months after gastrostomy feeding was started, a substantial rise in mean domain scores for mental health, role limitations due to emotional problems, physical functioning, social functioning, and energy/vitality were observed. At 12 months after gastrostomy placement, carers reported significant improvements in social functioning, mental health, energy/vitality (mean increase >9.8 points;p<0.03), and in general health perception (mean increase 6.35 points;p=0.045) compared with results at baseline. Moreover, the values obtained for these domains at 12 months were not significantly different from the normal reference standard. Carers reported a significant reduction in feeding times, increased ease of drug administration, and reduced concern about their child's nutritional status. This study has demonstrated a significant, measurable improvement in the quality of life of carers after insertion of a gastrostomy feeding tube.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Health-related correlates of gambling on the British National Lottery.

The National Lottery has been estimated as being played by 65% of the adult British population. This study investigated whether higher average weekly spending on the Lottery is associated with various health-related variables. Results from a survey of 482 British adults (mean age = 33.3 yr.), consisting of 107 students and 375 people in employment, indicated that those who spent more on the Lottery had significantly poorer social functioning (Social Functioning scale of the SF-36 Health Survey), higher weekly alcohol and cigarette consumption, and lower frequency of social support (Emotional and Social Interaction scales of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey). By contrast, higher lottery spending was not associated with poorer general mental health (General Health Questionnaire). Manual workers spent over twice the weekly amount on the Lottery compared to nonmanual workers. Consumption of alcohol and cigarettes was lower than recently published UK norms. Results suggest that higher Lottery spending among the general adult population possibly may be linked specifically to restrictions in social activity. The association of Lottery spending with alcohol and cigarette use among a sample whose consumption was relatively low appears to require explanation within psychological theories of addiction. The over-all pattern of results is discussed in relation both to addiction theory and to the Lottery's widespread appeal and availability.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Sleep-related breathing disorders impair quality of life in haemodialysis recipients.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that the quality of life of haemodialysis recipients is often severely compromised. So far, the influence of sleep-related breathing disorders on the quality of life of patients receiving maintenance dialysis has not been evaluated. METHODS: Quality of life as assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Nottingham Health Profile Part 1 (NHP1) was determined in 33 patients (20 males, 13 females; median age 66 years (95% CI 22-82)) with end-stage renal disease treated with haemodialysis. Additionally, polygraphy with a validated eight-channel ambulatory recording unit was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (63.6%) had a clinically significant sleep-related breathing disorder with a median apnoea/hypopnoea index of 13.3 (6.3-78.1)/h and a median oxygen saturation during sleep of 92.5 (88-97)%. In three out of eight subjective measures of the SF-36 (vitality, social functioning and mental health) and in one out of six subjective measures of the NHP1 (emotional reactions), patients without sleep-related breathing disorders had a higher quality of life than patients with this disorder (P<0.05 each). Furthermore, the severity of the sleep-related breathing disorder as indicated by the apnoea/hypopnoea index significantly correlated with the following quality of life measures: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitation due to physical and emotional problems, general health and vitality (SF-36), and also with pain, sleep, social isolation and emotional reactions (NHP1) (P<0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sleep-related breathing disorders independently influence the quality of life of patients receiving maintenance dialysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Long-term health-related quality of life, growth, and spiritual well-being after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: To examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and growth, and spiritual well-being in adult survivors of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) for a malignant disease. METHODS: HSCT survivors (n = 662) were recruited through the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry/Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry and were drawn from 40 transplantation centers. HSCT survivors completed a telephone interview and a set of questionnaires a mean of 7.0 years post-HSCT (range, 1.8 to 22.6 years). Study measures included a variety of standardized measures of HRQOL and growth and spiritual well-being. An age- and sex-matched healthy comparison (HC) group (n = 158) was recruited using a peer nomination method. The HC group completed a parallel telephone interview and set of questionnaires. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of variance analyses found the HSCT survivor group reported poorer status relative to the HC group for all HRQOL outcome clusters including physical health, physical functioning, social functioning, psychological adjustment, and dyadic adjustment. In contrast, the HSCT survivor group reported more psychological and interpersonal growth. Mean effect size for the 24 outcome indices examined was 0.36 standard deviations, an effect size often considered clinically meaningful or important. The largest group differences were found for measures of general health, physical function and well-being, depression, cognitive function, and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The experience of HSCT for a malignant disease has a wide-ranging, longstanding, and profound impact on adult recipients. Relative to healthy controls, HSCT survivors reported poorer physical, psychological, and social functioning but, conversely, more psychological and interpersonal growth, differences that appeared to persist many years after HSCT.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). The patient group included 43 females aged between 55 and 78 years with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. The control group consisted of 43 healthy female volunteers whose ages matched those of the patients. All of the participants were evaluated using both QUALEFFO and SF-36. In the reliability studies, internal consistency within the domain of QUALEFFO was generally good, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging between 0.70 and 0.96. Convergent and discriminant validity rates of domains were both found to be between 89% and 100%. Significant correlations existed between scores of similar domains of QUALEFFO and the SF-36, especially for pain, physical function, social function and general health perception. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of QUALEFFO and the SF-36 indicated that all five domains in each questionnaire were significantly predictive of vertebral fractures. However, when comparing similar domains of the two questionnaires, the social function domain of QUALEFFO demonstrated a significantly better performance. In conclusion, the Turkish version of QUALEFFO was found to be reliable and valid in the evaluation of patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. Our study also suggests that the patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis have impairment in quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease on health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects health-related quality of life. METHODS: We enrolled 533 adults with a history of heartburn symptoms for at least 6 months of moderate to severe heartburn in 4 of the 7 days before study entry. Patients were treated with ranitidine 150 mg twice a day for 6 weeks and Gelusil antacid tablets as needed. We measured physician-rated symptoms and the Medical Outcomes Study short-form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. Baseline results were compared with normative data for the US population and for patients with selected chronic diseases. Treatment response was defined as no episode of moderate to severe heartburn for 7 days. Statistical significance was set at P <0.001. RESULTS: GERD patients reported significantly worse scores on all 8 SF-36 scales, physical function and well-being, and emotional well-being compared with the general population. Patients with GERD reported worse emotional well-being than patients with diabetes or hypertension. Treatment responders demonstrated significantly less pain and better physical function, social function, vitality, and emotional well-being compared with nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GERD experience decrements in health-related quality of life compared with the general population. The impact of GERD is most striking on measures of pain, mental health, and social function. Successful treatment for GERD results in improvements in health-related quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Assembling a toolkit to measure geriatric rehabilitation outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To gather and assemble relevant patient-based outcome measures with emphasis placed on the older adults' level of functioning and activity performance. DESIGN: The study was conducted in two phases. First, a set of relevant measurement instruments was identified, and their was value analyzed according to general characteristics and metrologic criteria. Second, this "toolkit" was pretested on 22 older adults with respect to the burden of assessment and the quality of the data. RESULTS: The toolkit includes eight measurement instruments related to mobility, basic activities of daily living, independent living, leisure, physical functioning, psychologic functioning, social functioning, and caregiver status. Participants' acceptance of the toolkit was high, with all subjects completing the toolkit in two sessions (30-90 mins each). The leisure participation and satisfaction measure was the most difficult to complete. Distributional properties were adequate to ascertain variability between subjects, except for a ceiling effect found for the social functioning measure. CONCLUSION: Measurement tools that are used in combination are needed to optimize the applicability and utility of outcome results. The toolkit has the potential to become a valuable method for researchers and clinicians reporting geriatric rehabilitation outcomes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

The impact of migraine on quality of life in the general population: the GEM study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in migraineurs in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study within the context of a population-based study monitoring health characteristics of the Dutch adult population in two municipalities representative of the general population in the Netherlands. Migraine was assessed in a multistaged procedure that included a semistructured clinical interview by telephone. Final diagnosis met 1988 International Headache Society criteria. HRQOL was measured with the self-administered RAND 36-item Health Survey (RAND-36), including physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations, and physical perception. HRQOL of migraineurs was compared with that of nonmigraineurs. To compare and study the effect of comorbidity, the authors also identified subjects with asthma or chronic musculoskeletal pain. There were 5998 people with complete data, 620 of whom had migraine in the last year. RESULTS: Compared with nonmigraineurs, significantly more migraineurs had asthma (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1, 2.4) or chronic musculoskeletal pain (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.5, 2.1). Migraineurs reported diminished functioning and well-being on all eight domains as compared with nonmigraineurs. HRQOL was inversely related to attack frequency (p < 0.0002). Migraineurs had a poorer HRQOL than did those reporting asthma, except for dimensions concerning physical functioning and general health perception, but they had a better HRQOL than did subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Comorbidity of asthma or chronic musculoskeletal pain in migraine further reduced HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Migraineurs report more asthma and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Compared with nonmigraineurs and to others with chronic conditions, migraineurs report compromised physical, mental, and social functioning, particularly those with a high frequency of attack.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Supplementing clinic-based skills training with manual-based community support sessions: effects on social adjustment of patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Although skills training is a validated psychosocial treatment for schizophrenia, generalization of the skills to everyday life has not been optimal. This study evaluated a behaviorally oriented method of augmenting clinic-based skills training in the community with the aim of improving opportunities, encouragement, and reinforcement for outpatients to use their skills in their natural environment. METHOD: Sixty-three individuals with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 60 weeks of clinic-based skills training alone or of clinic-based skills training supplemented with manual-based generalization sessions in the community. Patients were also randomly assigned to receive either haloperidol or risperidone. Therapists' fidelity to the manuals was measured. Patients' acquisition of the skills from pre- to posttraining was evaluated. The primary outcome measures were the Social Adjustment Scale-II and the Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of the patients completed the trial. Only six participants experienced psychotic exacerbations during the trial. There was no evidence of a differential medication effect on social functioning. Social functioning improved modestly in both psychosocial conditions over time; participants who received augmented skills training in the community showed significantly greater and/or quicker improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Given judicious and effective antipsychotic medication that limited exacerbations to less than 10% during the trial, a wide range of outpatients with schizophrenia demonstrated substantial learning of illness management and social skills in the clinic. When clinic-based skills training was augmented by in vivo training and consultation, transfer of the skills to everyday life was enhanced. These benefits were established regardless of the medications prescribed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Influence of age on measurement of health status in patients undergoing elective surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of age on the relationships between global measures of health and specific health dimensions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: University tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients older than 50 years admitted for major elective non-cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS: Consenting patients underwent preoperative evaluations including a medical history, physical examination, and administration of health status assessment instruments. Global health status was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) and with a 0 to 100 verbal measure of global health. Specific health dimensions (physical function, role function, social function, mental health, energy and fatigue, and pain) were measured using the SF-36. Subjects also completed a second validated measure of physical functioning, the Specific Activity Scale (SAS). RESULTS: Although patients aged > 70 years (n = 276) had poorer role function, energy, and fatigue scores and poorer physical function on both the SF-36 and SAS than younger patients (n = 469) (P < 0.05), they had similar overall health perception. In the entire population, global health status as measured with the SF-36 health perception scale had the greatest correlation with the energy and fatigue scale (r = .45), correlated moderately with mental health (r = .35), social function (r = .32), and physical function (r = .33), and correlated less well with the surgically remediable dimension of pain (r = .23). However, correlations of global health perception with pain and global health perception with role functioning were significantly (P < or = 0.05) lower in older patients when compared with subjects 70 years or younger (r = .13 vs .28 and r = .19 vs .33, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite poorer role function, poorer energy and fatigue scores, and poorer physical function, elderly persons have similar global health perception when compared with younger individuals. These data indicate that global health perception may be determined by different factors in the elderly or that the elderly have fundamentally different expectations of what their global health status should be. Our findings emphasize the importance of multidimensional scales when evaluating quality of life because, particularly in the elderly, the use of global measures alone may not reflect critically important dimension-specific impairments in health.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Health status of hormone replacement therapy users and non-users as determined by the SF-36 quality-of-life dimension.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the health status of women who use and do not use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). METHOD: The 1994 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey (a population health interview survey) was used to administer the short form-36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) to users and non-users of HRT. A representative sample of 813 women aged 40 years and older were interviewed. The response rate of the survey was 72.4%. Eight health dimensions of the SF-36 were measured: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations owing to emotional problems, role limitations owing to physical problems, mental health, vitality, pain and general health. RESULTS: The mean score for all eight health dimensions was in the bottom 50% of the population for HRT users while non-users were in the upper 50%. Users of HRT had significantly poorer scores for physical limitations, body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health. CONCLUSION: Women who use HRT are less healthy than non-users when measured by a generic health status measure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Development of subscales from the symptoms/problems and effects of kidney disease scales of the kidney disease quality of life instrument.

BACKGROUND: The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL) was developed to provide clinicians with a comprehensive assessment of the important domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing hemodialysis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop subscales from the 55 items comprising the Symptoms/Problems and Effects of Kidney Disease scales of the KDQOL and to measure the internal consistency reliability of these subscales. METHODS: The 55 items from the Symptoms/Problems and Effects of Kidney Disease scales were arranged into substantively meaningful clusters using an affinity mapping procedure. The resulting subscales were assessed for internal consistency reliability using data from a sample of 165 individuals with kidney disease who had completed the KDQOL. RESULTS: Eleven multi-item subscales were identified: pain, psychological dependency, cognitive functioning, social functioning, dialysis-related symptoms, cardiopulmonary symptoms, sleep, energy, cramps, diet, and appetite. Four items (clotting or other problems with access site, high blood pressure, numbness in hands or feet, and blurred vision) were not included in any of these subscales. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the 11 subscales ranged from 0.66 to 0.92. These subscales correlated with the scales from the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey as hypothesized (ie, corresponding pain, energy, and social functioning scales had the highest correlations). In addition, several subscales were significantly associated, as hypothesized, with other variables such as the number of disability days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study further support the reliability and validity of the KDQOL. The 11 subscales identified yield more detailed information on the HRQOL of patients with kidney disease and provide a basis for specific improvements in the quality of care delivered to these patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: implication of change in hepatic protein synthesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgical removal has been accepted as a therapeutic option for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, little is known about the quality of life after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. In this report, we describe the risk factors most affecting impaired quality of life after partial hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-six patients who received curative resections 12-60 months previously, answered our original questionnaire, mailed to them. The questions consisted of 14 items concerning physical function, social function, psychological function, physical sensation, and recognition of the disease, with a scoring system of 1, 2, and 3. Based on the pre- and postoperative serum alanine aminotransferase or cholinesterase levels at 3-month intervals during the follow-up period, the changes were classified into three types: those staying in the favorable or unfavorable range at one year (no change, Type 1 or Type 3), and those entering the unfavorable range postoperatively (Type 2). RESULTS: Total quality of life score: the sum of scores to questions 1-12, displayed two peaks of normal distribution. Based on a point of intersection of the two curves: i.e., score of 22, the patients were classified into 2 groups: those with preserved quality of life (n = 75) i.e., total quality of life scores of 12-21, and impaired quality of life, scores of 22 or more (n = 21). Older age (> or = 65 y) at hepatectomy, in the course of treatment for recurrence, and Type 2 change of serum cholinesterase level were associated with the impaired quality of life. Multivariate analysis revealed that Type 2 change of serum cholinesterase levels was an independent risk factor for an impaired quality of life. Furthermore, the patients exhibiting Type 2 change of serum cholinesterase levels were clearly impaired in their physical and social functions compared to the other patients. Hepatitis-related or cancer-related factors showed no correlation with the deterioration of the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was impaired in cases of aged patients, treatment for recurrence, and Type 2 change of the serum cholinesterase level. Postoperative maintenance of protein synthesis including cholinesterase is one measure to preserve a satisfactory quality of life after hepatectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Longitudinal application of the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey with not-in-treatment crack-cocaine users.

BACKGROUND: The Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 has been used infrequently with substance abusers. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to use the SF-36 to assess changes in the health status of crack-cocaine users over time, to determine the characteristics of users who change, to assess the influence of frequency of crack use on SF-36 health status, and to determine the utility of the SF-36 with crack users. DESIGN: A multilevel model was used to analyze data that were collected every 6 months over a 2-year period. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 439 not-in-treatment crack-cocaine users. MEASURES: The SF-36 was administered at baseline and follow-up interviews. Data on the frequency of crack-cocaine use were also collected. RESULTS: On average, SF-36 health status remained fairly static during the study although statistically significant increases in scores occurred on the social functioning and role-emotional subscales. Variation in subjects' health trajectories occurred but was not, for the most part, explained by individual characteristics. Frequency of crack use was negatively related to scores on the physical functioning, social functioning, and mental health subscales. Most subscales did not reflect what are commonly recognized to be the health-compromising effects of cocaine use, raising questions about the use of the SF-36 with illicit drug users. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in crack users' SF-36 health status were uncommon. Frequency of crack use was negatively associated with health status. Several SF-36 subscales may be helpful in studies involving illicit drug users in which limited assessments of health status are needed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Treating depression in predominantly low-income young minority women: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Impoverished minority women experience a higher burden from depression than do white women because they are less likely to receive appropriate care. Little is known about the effectiveness of guideline-based care for depression with impoverished minority women, most of whom do not seek care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of an intervention to deliver guideline-based care for depression compared with referral to community care with low-income and minority women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized controlled trial conducted in the Washington, DC, suburban area from March 1997 through May 2002 of 267 women with current major depression, who attended county-run Women, Infants, and Children food subsidy programs and Title X family planning clinics. Outcomes Hamilton Depression Rating Scale measured monthly from baseline through 6 months; instrumental role functioning (Social Adjustment Scale) and social functioning (Short Form 36-Item Health Survey) measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to an antidepressant medication intervention (trial of paroxetine switched to buproprion, if lack of response) (n = 88), a psychotherapy intervention (8 weeks of manual-guided cognitive behavior therapy) (n = 90), or referral to community mental health services (n = 89). RESULTS: Both the medication intervention (P<.001) and the psychotherapy intervention (P =.006) reduced depressive symptoms more than the community referral did. The medication intervention also resulted in improved instrumental role (P =.006) and social (P =.001) functioning. The psychotherapy intervention resulted in improved social functioning (P =.02). Women randomly assigned to receive medications were twice as likely (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-4.27; P =.057) to achieve a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 7 or less by month 6 as were those referred to community care. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline-concordant care for major depression is effective for these ethnically diverse and impoverished patients. More women engaged in a sufficient duration of treatment with medications compared with psychotherapy, and outcome gains were more extensive and robust for medications.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Methods for assessing quality of life in the cardiac arrhythmia suppression trial (CAST).

The CAST was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre trial of antiarrhythmic medications designed to suppress ventricular arrhythmias in patients after an acute myocardial infarction (MI). A collection of 21 items derived from established scales was used to assess aspects of quality of life in CAST. The questions focused on symptoms, mental health, physical functioning, social functioning, life satisfaction, and life expectancy. Additional aspects included exposure to major stressful life events, and perceived social support and social integration. Work status was also recorded. Using the baseline values of 1465 (98%) out of 1498 patients enrolled in the CAST main study between 15 June 1987 and 19 April 1989, the reliability and validity of the scales used in CAST were computed. High internal consistency reliability (> or = 0.70) was found for Symptoms, Mental Health, and Physical Functioning. The discriminative validity, in particular for Symptoms, Mental Health, Physical and Social Functioning, showed that patients with heart failure and previous MI, as well as those suffering from angina and dyspnea, had a worse quality of life than those patients who were not experiencing these symptoms. It was concluded that the scales selected to form the CAST quality of life questionnaire were both reliable and clinically valid for this patient population and therefore could be used to detect disease progression and treatment effects.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Quality of life of elderly patients enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation.

The quality of life of 51 elderly subjects enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation is described to devise strategies for improving QOL as an outcome of a therapeutic regimen. Based on Chrisman and Fowler's Systems-in-Change Model, physical function, social function, and emotional function were assessed via the McMaster Health Index Questionnaire and the Cantril Self-Anchoring Scale during participation in cardiac rehabilitation. The greatest benefit of cardiac rehabilitation to subjects was in physical function, but benefits were also noted in social and emotional function.

Activities of Daily Living↗