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PubMed1996

Evaluation of life quality for children infected by HIV: validation of a method and preliminary results.

The authors discuss a method developed for the evaluation of quality of life (QoL) of children infected by HIV. The method consists of several questionnaires intended for different evaluators (doctor, nurse, psychologist, and parents), and for the infected child. The protocol was administered to 47 families (interviewed in five centers in the south of France). A descriptive overview of this population notes the state of health and autonomy of the children and parents, and reveals important social difficulties within and beyond the family unit for 75% of the families. The results obtained furnish points to consider in the planning of psychosocial support systems. The reactions of the evaluators to the questionnaires as well as other elements of validation are presented: level of responses (acceptance), internal consistency, agreement between evaluators, and reliability and definition of the main indicators for QoL for the children. Questionnaires were simplified for a second survey so as to test the sensitivity of the method to time variations, improve acceptability, and test validity for the evaluation of QoL. The authors hope their method will interest specialized teams in the fields of therapeutic research and/or psychosocial support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Long-term morbidity following axillary dissection in breast cancer patients--clinical assessment, significance for life quality and the impact of demographic, oncologic and therapeutic factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes in detail the surgery-related symptoms following axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer patients and considers both their significance for long term quality of life and the impact of possible influencing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three hundred and ninety six patients were studied retrospectively using a self-report questionnaire and a clinical examination. The symptoms, numbness, pain, edema, arm strength and mobility were evaluated. The subjective assessment of the degree of symptom intensity was compared with objective measurements. The extent of surgery (number of resected nodes, level of dissection) as well as the influence of demographic, oncologic and adjuvant measures (age, time interval, number of involved nodes, chemotherapy) were evaluated. RESULTS: Shoulder-arm morbidity and fear of cancer recurrence were the most important long-term sources of distress following breast cancer surgery in our study population. Demographic, oncologic and therapeutic measures including the extent of surgery had no influence on long-term morbidity. The intensity of all evaluated symptoms was reported to be more severe in patients' subjective statements than in the results of clinical assessment. CONCLUSION: Shoulder-arm morbidity following axillary dissection is a frustrating polysymptomatic disease that seems to be relatively unaffected by therapeutic measures. The surgical trauma necessary for adequate tumor staging (removal of 10 lymph nodes) seems decisive for the postsurgery syndrome following axillary dissection. For node-positive patients complete axillary clearing may improve tumor control without worsening long-termmorbidity. New techniques, such as the sentinel-node-biopsy, that selects patients with negative axillary status while preserving the integrity of axillary structures, may improve the overall morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Oral health behind bars: a study of oral disease and its impact on the life quality of an older prison population.

OBJECTIVE: The principal aims of this study were to report on the prevalence of oral disease and its impact on the life quality of older (aged 60 and above) prisoners at Hong Kong SAR's elderly detention centre, China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey involving clinical oral examinations and face-to-face interviews with 64 older prisoners at the centre. Clinical oral examinations were carried out following WHO criteria. The impact of oral health on life quality was assessed using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile measure, OHIP-14. RESULTS: The prevalence of oral disease was high, the mean DMFT was 22.5 (SD 10.6) and 40% (18) of the dentate prisoners had shallow or deep periodontal pockets. Most (75%, 48) were in need of prosthetic treatment. Over half the prisoners experienced one or more oral health impacts on life quality during the previous year. This was associated with socio-demographic factors: employment status prior to incarceration (P < 0.01), oral health behaviour: smoking habits (P < 0.01) and clinical oral health status: DMFT (P < 0.05) and prosthetic need (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Among inmates at Hong Kong's elderly detention centre, the prevalence of oral disease was high and the impact of oral health on their life quality was substantial. The impact of oral health on the life quality of the older prisoners was associated with prisoners socio-demographic background, oral health behaviour and oral health status.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Smoking and subjective life qualities in middle school students].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the tendency of smoking in middle school students during the last 5 years and to identify the relationship between subjective life qualities and different smoking behaviors in order to determine the possible effects on tobacco use. METHODS: Six middle schools were chosen in the city and rural areas of Hefei in 1998 and 2003, respectively. Smoking behaviors such as ever smoking, smoking before 13 years old, current smoking, regular smoking and addictive smoking were surveyed. Emotional symptoms, satisfaction on school life and on general life were chosen to estimate subjective life qualities. Relationship between subjective life qualities and smoking behaviors was analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of smoking before 13 years old, current smoking, regular smoking and addictive smoking in 2003 (8.8%, 12.0%, 5.6% and 1.7%, respectively) were higher in 1998 (3.1%, 3.0%, 1.7% and 0.6%, respectively). The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were high among students with ever smoking, current smoking, regular smoking, addictive smoking, smoking before 13 years old and no attempt to quit cigarette smoking. Lower school life satisfaction and general estimation of life were found among these students. Higher satisfaction on school life (OR = 0.657) and on ordinary life (OR = 0.766) were protecting factors of current smoking but comorbid depression and anxiety were risk factors (OR = 2.181). Higher school life satisfaction (OR = 0.388) seemed to be protecting factor of addictive smoking while depression was risk factor of addictive smoking (OR = 2.753) and regular smoking (OR = 1.676). CONCLUSION: Smoking behaviors were common in middle school students and affected by several emotional and cognitive factors of subjective life qualities. Longitudinal designs are required to clarify the causal relationship between these factors and smoking behaviors in adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Impact of dental conditions on patients' quality of life.

Quality of life measures have rarely been used in dentistry to assess oral health status. The purpose of this paper is to assess the utility of using standard indicators to measure the impacts of dental conditions on patients' quality of life. Quality of life was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct including three major aspects: social functioning, measured by the Sickness Impact Profile; well-being, measured by the Gill Well-Being Scale, Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Scale, and the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale; and symptoms, measured by the Kiyak Oral Functioning Scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the West Haven Multidimensional Pain Inventory. 152 patients were recruited from private dental practices consisting of 48 TMJ, 33 periodontal, 23 denture, and 48 recall patients. Patients in the first three groups reported numerous impacts on quality of life and the impacts were particularly severe for the TMJ patients. The indicators used were sensitive to differences among the four groups and hold promise for further development of quality of life indicators for use in epidemiologic surveys and clinical dental trials.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

[Influence of social support on the life quality of burn survivors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of social support on the life quality of burn survivors. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty patients admitted to our hospital from July of 1995 to July of 2002 were investigated by social support questionnaire (PRQ-85 Part2) and life quality self-evaluation questionnaire (GQOLL) 1 to 2 years after burns. The patients were divided into 3 groups (high, middle and low level of social support groups) according to the scores in the survey. The influence of different levels of social support on the degree of satisfaction of life and living quality were analyzed with SPSS11.0 software. RESULTS: The living satisfaction score and living quality score of patients with high and middle levels of social support were 54.6 +/- 7.1, 57.4 +/- 8.1 and 46.8 +/- 5.2, 51.3 +/- 5.7, respectively. On the other hand, those with low level of social support, the scores were 51.2 +/- 8.1 and 43.6 +/- 5.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: The life quality of burn patients can be improved through reinforcement of the social support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The effect of the bonny method of guided imagery and music on the mood and life quality of cancer patients.

Cancer patients continue to experience elevated levels of emotional distress, even after cancer treatment. Elevated emotional distress negatively impacts immune and endocrine functions and decreases life quality. This study explored the effectiveness of GIM in alleviating mood disturbance and improving quality of life in cancer patients. Eight volunteers with a cancer history were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a wait-list control group. Experimental subjects individually participated in 10 weekly GIM sessions. All subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Quality of Life-Cancer (QOL-CA) questionnaires pretest, posttest, and at a 6-week follow-up. Individuals who participated in GIM sessions scored better on both mood scores and quality of life scores at posttest than those participating in the control group. Additionally, mood and quality of life scores continued to improve in the experimental group, even after sessions were complete. Results indicate that GIM was effective in improving mood and quality of life in these cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gender differences in health status and life quality of students].

The study has revealed that the leading hygienic risk factor of disorders and low life quality in medical students are an excess educational load at the expense of lecture and extra lecture hours, which is not characteristic of engineering students for whom the organization of a training process mostly meets the sanitary requirements. Gender differences have been found in life quality assessed by young males and females. Social factors have been proved to be the most significant parameters modifying the student's life quality. Moreover, the students of both institutes show decreased mental capacity by the third year of studies, by the fourth year, there are signs of its enhancement irrespective of gender.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Psychiatric problems, life quality and compliance in patients treated with haemodialysis and renal transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: The major goal of this study is to compare the results of psychiatric morbidity and life quality evaluations in haemodialysis patients and renal transplantation recipients. Additionally, it aims to discuss risk factors for psychiatric morbidity, life quality and medical compliance of these patients in the light of literature review. METHOD: In this study, assessment instruments called Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form-36, Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Scale for Compliance of Renal Transplantation Recipients, and Questionnaire for Sociodemographic and Health Information were applied to 34 patients treated with haemodialysis and 30 renal transplantation recipients in the treatment programme for 5 years or longer period. RESULTS: 26.6% percent of renal transplantation recipients reported that they had been given unsufficient or no information before transplantation by their doctors. According to 46.6 percent of patients' relatives, patients' compliance for health behavior was in good level. Decrease in education level was predicted higher scores above cut-off point of depression subscale; patient group (renal transplantation versus haemodialysis), decreases in depression-anxiety levels, increase in scores for internal locus of control and marital status (unmarried versus married) predicted better quality of life, physical and mental. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study, such as unsufficient information before transplantation and low treatment compliance, suggest that more sophisticated psychosocial intervention programs focusing on these patients' quality of life, mental health and treatment compliance are necessary.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Impact of man-made load on patients' life quality].

The present prospective study included 70 females with uterine myoma indicated for surgery. The patients lived in the city districts having different industrial loads. Life quality was studied before and different periods after surgery. The poor environment was ascertained to affect life quality in patients with uterine myoma. Testing the life quality of a patient can significantly alter our views of preparation for surgery and of postoperative rehabilitation.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1989

[Cancer of the gallbladder: survival and life quality depending on the type of surgical treatment].

An analysis is made of the survival and life quality of 47 patients diagnosed by histopathology as gallbladder cancer, in relation to surgical treatment. The 47 patients, with a mean age of 70 years and a male female ratio of 1:3.7, were classified according to the Nevin stages: there were no stage I patients, 1 stage II, 8 III-IV and 38 V. The operations performed were 20 simple cholecystectomies with excision of a portion of adjacent hepatic tissue; 11 radical cholecystectomies; 10 surgical intubations; 3 percutaneous endoprosthesis; 2 gastroenteroanastomoses and 1 exploratory laparotomy. The results showed: 1) Radical cholecystectomy was the best therapeutic method, providing the longest survival (433 days) with the smallest proportion of days of poor life quality (10%). 2) In patients in stages II, III, IV, simple cholecystectomy with excision of the adjacent liver tissue yielded a survival of more than a year, even in patients of advanced age (greater than 80 years). 3) Although percutaneous and surgical intubation achieved a similar survival, the first technique produced a better quality of life. 4) In view of the diversity of the surgical techniques practiced in patients in stage V, a revaluation of this stage is necessary to individualize treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

An assessment of anxiety and dermatology life quality in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Anxiety is a prevalent psychological factor associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). AD patients generally suffer from a high anxiety level, and psychological treatment documents a positive effect on the anxiety level, as well as the course and management of the disease. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) has been suggested as a relevant clinical measure in AD. This study investigated the relationship between the severity of AD, dermatological life quality and anxiety. Thirty-two adults suffering from AD were examined using the Severity Scoring of AD Index (SCORAD), the DLQI and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI). Twenty-two healthy controls were examined using the DLQI and STAI. Results showed that the AD group had higher anxiety and lower dermatological life quality than the control group. In the AD group a significant positive correlation was found between SCORAD and DLQI and between DLQI and STAI. However, no correlation was found between SCORAD and STAI. The results suggest that: (i) both severity of eczema and anxiety are important for dermatological life quality; (ii) psychological inferences should not be made from the severity of eczema, but from the psychological measures, and vice versa; and (iii) both dermatological and psychological assessment is important in AD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Life quality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Two hundred three patients with hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 73 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, race, and neighborhood of residence were administered three self-report inventories concerned with the following four dimensions of life quality: emotional functioning, social-role functioning, activities of daily living, and recreational pastimes. An additional inventory was administered to a spouse or another close relative of each patient. The life quality of patients with COPD was found to be impaired relative to healthy subjects on all dimensions. Depression was the preponderant emotional disturbance reported; difficulties with home management and reduction in social interaction were the primary social-role deficits. Ambulation, mobility, sleep and rest, and a variety of recreational pastimes were also severely affected. Life quality exhibited moderate but significant relationships to neuropsychological, pulmonary, and cardiac functioning and to exercise capability. Age and socioeconomic status were found to be possible moderators of the relationship of COPD to life quality. A model to integrate these findings is proposed. Implications for the management of COPD and for the evaluation of medical treatments of chronic disabling conditions are described.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Life events, quality of life and social support prior to acute cerebral vascular disease, as predictive factors of the quality of life and functional state following stroke].

INTRODUCTION: The repercussion of stroke on quality of life has been evaluated but not the possible relation between the quality of life before and months after an acute stroke. OBJECTIVE: To study the possible relation between quality of life, social support, stressful life events prior to the stroke and quality of life, social support and functional state months after. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was made of 34 patients (71.7 +/- 8 years; 19 (56%) men; 15 (44%) women with stroke, by means of two evaluations: personal interview within the first 36 hours (quality of life--Nothingham health profile (NHP)-, perception of social support and stressful life events--Holmes and Rake inventory-) and an interview over the phone 16.5 +/- 5.3 months after the stroke (NHP, perception of social support and functional state--Rankin scale-). RESULTS: Following the stroke there was deterioration in perception of social support (19.8 +/- 3 vs 12.5 +/- 8; p = 0.000) and in the degree of social isolation of the NHP (9.4 +/- 20 vs 21.1 +/- 30; p = 0.03). The only relation found was between the following variables: pain at the first evaluation and pain (r = 0.45; p = 0.007) at the second evaluation; mobility at the first evaluation and emotional state (r = 0.39; p = 0.029) and social support (r = 0.37; p = 0.027) at the second evaluation; sleepiness at the first evaluation and energy (r = 0.55; p = 0.0006), pain (r = 0.39; p = 0.022), emotional state (r = 0.35; p = 0.038), mobility (r = 0.34, p = 0.048) and sleepiness (r = 0.51; p = 0.001) at the second evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that there is little relationship between the previous state and that following stroke, and that the deterioration in perception of support and social isolation is due to the stroke itself.

Affect↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An approach to "quality-adjusted life years" quality of life weights from self-assessed health status].

OBJECTIVES: To estimate quality of life weights in Spain for 1987, 1993 and 2001, based on self-assessed health status reported in the National Health Survey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quality of life weights were estimated using an ordered probit model. In this model, self-assessed health status was related to the presence of chronic diseases, demographic characteristics, and a random error. Quality of life weights were derived by normalizing the regressors obtained. RESULTS: Quality of life values related to chronic diseases varied depending on the diseases. Pain, limitations, and diseases in the previous 12 months had a greater negative impact on quality of life than did chronic diseases. Quality of life decreased as age increased, and increased as educational level increased. For the same disease and adjusted for age, sex, and educational level, quality of life weights were greater for 1993 and 2001 than for 1987. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed methodology allows quality of life weights to be calculated from health survey data, which has direct application in economic assessment, analysis of socioeconomic health inequalities, and health capital estimation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Impact of integral allergic treatment in the quality life of patients with allergic rhinitis].

BACKGROUND: The quality of life is the perception of a patient about functional effects of his illness and therapy. Recently, appropriate instruments were devised to evaluate the health related with the quality of life, as the standardized and validated questionnaires for rhino-conjunctivitis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of integral allergological treatment upon the quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis that were attended as outpatients at the Service of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of Hospital Universitario de Puebla. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was carried out a longitudinal, prospective, experimental and prolective study in patients of both sexes, older than 18 years old, with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis; life quality was evaluated by means of the application of a validated and standardized questionnaire every 15 days during 4 months. After being included in the study, patients received the integral allergological treatment conformed by educational measures, environmental control, pharmacotherapy and specific immunotherapy. We determined frequency for qualitative variables and average for quantitative variables. The averages were compared by means of variance analysis. The significance value was established down in 0.05. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included, 61.5% of them were male. The average age was 33.2 (SD 17.0). There was a significative difference in quality of life index when patient was included in comparison with the indexes in subsequent visits. The most frequent allergic rhinitis was the moderate-severe persistent type, with a 76.9% rate. CONCLUSION: Integral allergological treatment improves quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The expected loss of life quality from traffic injuries requiring hospitalisation.

Assuming a probability distribution of the loss of life quality for each level of impairment, this paper estimates a range for the expected loss of life quality caused by serious (requiring hospitalisation) nonfatal traffic injuries. The results obtained are close to those determined independently in the United Kingdom.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index: validation of the cartoon version.

BACKGROUND: In 1995 the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) was developed as a tool to allow quality of life assessment of children with skin conditions. This initial questionnaire was in a written format. OBJECTIVES: Using the same validated questions, a full-colour cartoon version has been developed. The aim of this study was to validate this against the initial written questionnaire in a three-part study. METHODS: The first part of the study piloted the use of both versions in an outpatient setting. One hundred and one children completed both versions of the CDLQI in a random order. A further 66 children completed the cartoon CDLQI in outpatients, and subsequently completed the cartoon version on the same day at home, which was returned by post. The scores were compared. In the second part, in more controlled conditions to eliminate parental and investigator bias, 107 children with current dermatological problems were administered both versions of the CDLQI in a random order. The scores were analysed, and time to complete each version, and the child and parental preferences, were recorded. The third part assessed compliance by asking 546 children recently reviewed in dermatology clinics to return a single completed postal CDLQI. Half of the children were given the text, and half the cartoon version. RESULTS: The median age of participating children was 11 years. There was no significant difference in scores between the two versions in both parts 1 and 2, but the cartoon version was completed faster (median 90 s) than the written version (median 120 s) (P < 0.0001). Both children and their parents significantly preferred the cartoon version and found it easier to use. Forty-six per cent of the postal CDLQI questionnaires were returned; there was no difference in compliance between the two versions. CONCLUSIONS: The cartoon CDLQI is equivalent to the previously validated written CDLQI version, but is faster and easier for children to use, and is preferred by both children and parents.

Adolescent↗