Dispositional optimism and sleep quality: a test of mediating pathways

Dispositional optimism has been related to beneficial influences on physical health outcomes. However, its links to global sleep quality and the psychological mediators responsible for such associations are less studied. This study thus examined if trait optimism predicted global sleep quality, and if measures of subjective well-being were statistical mediators of such links. A community sample of 175 participants (93 men, 82 women) completed measures of trait optimism, depression, and life satisfaction. Global sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results indicated that trait optimism was a strong predictor of better PSQI global sleep quality. Moreover, this association was mediated by depression and life satisfaction in both single and multiple mediator models. These results highlight the importance of optimism for the restorative process of sleep, as well as the utility of multiple mediator models in testing distinct psychological pathways.     

Comparison of three measures of quality of life outcome in the evaluation of continuous positive airways pressure therapy for sleep apnoea

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) has become a standard treatment since its introduction in 1981. Following such treatment the apnoeas disappear, sleep quality improves as apparently do daytime symptoms of sleepiness. Sleepiness is an unusual symptom and its impact on conventional indices of quality of life has rarely been measured. To allow comparison of NCPAP therapy with treatments for other conditions, measurements of quality of life before and after treatment using standard techniques are required. It is not clear which of the standard measures is most suited to measuring the health gain from nasal NCPAP, and indeed whether the disability of excessive sleepiness is included in all such measures. This study looks at three well recognized quality of life measures in OSA, before and after NCPAP therapy; the Short Form 36 (SF-36), Functional Limitations Profile (FLP), and the EuroQol (EQ-5D). The results were compared with data from normal populations. One hundred and eight patients with OSA undergoing a therapeutic assessment of NCPAP completed the three quality of life questionnaires before and 5 weeks after commencing treatment. Over 90 subjects completed all sections of the three measures on both occasions. The SF-36 revealed substantial adverse effects on subjective health of OSA and that NCPAP treatment produced dramatic positive effects. For example, the effect sizes (difference in score, divided by SD of baseline score) in the Energy/Vitality dimension was 0.98 and for the overall Mental and Physical Component Scores, 0.76 and 0.57, respectively: an effect size over 0.5 is considered moderate and over 0.8 as large. The FLP data showed similar pre treatment decrements in quality of life and substantial improvements following NCPAP. The changes with treatment in the majority of the dimensions from both the SF-36 and FLP were statistically significant (P<0.01). In contrast the EQ-5D did not show significant improvements with therapy, presumably because of its failure to measure the aspects of quality of life related to severe sleep fragmentation and daytime sleepiness. In conclusion, this study has clearly shown considerable decrements in quality of life in patients with OSA, similar to other chronic disabling conditions. Furthermore, NCPAP therapy returns patients to a quality of life similar to the normal population.     

身心因素与肠易激综合征患者生活质量的相关研究

目的调查肠易激综合征(IBS)患者生活质量状况并评估躯体及心理因素对它的影响。方法采用肠易激综合征生活质量量表(IBS-QOL)、临床症状问卷、艾森克人格问卷简式(EPQ-RSC)、简明心境问卷简式(POMS-SF)、医学应对问卷(MCMQ)对120例IBS患者进行测查,将IBS患者的心理健康水平(人格、情绪、应对)及躯体症状(肠道症状、肠外症状、睡眠障碍)与IBS患者生活质量进行相关分析。结果IBS患者IBS-QOL的8个因子和总分均显著降低(P<0.05),其中健康忧虑和饮食限制降低最为明显,除IBS症状外,肠外症状、睡眠障碍、精神心理异常在IBS患者中也很常见。心理因素中EPQ-RSC神经质(N)分、POMS中焦虑、抑郁等多项因子分及总分、MCMQ屈服积分与IBS-QOL总分呈负相关;躯体因素中IBS症状、肠外症状、睡眠障碍积分与IBS-QOL总分呈负相关。结论肠易激综合征患者的生活质量明显降低,除躯体症状外,心理功能失调也是决定患者生活质量的重要因素。     

Perceived quality of life and mental health status of Irish female prisoners

Mental health status and quality of life of female prisoners, the majority of whom are drug-users, was examined as part of a larger, cross-sectional, general healthcare study of the Irish prisoner population. Comparisons were made with drug using and non-drug using male prisoners and females from the general population. Instruments include the GHQ-12 and the WHOQOL-BREF. While their quality of life profile was closer to drug-using male prisoners than other comparison groups, female prisoners still had significantly poorer physical and psychological Quality of Life scores. While poorer quality of life scores may be associated with the more severe drug use patterns of female prisoners it is likely that other factors also contribute. Before resorting to drugs/crime women may have already experienced adversity. There may also be gender differences in response to the combined dimensions of environmental distress. If women are to be imprisoned appropriate comprehensive mental health promotion approaches must address their specific needs.     

Methods of assessing the impact of climacteric complaints on quality of life

Quality of life is an important outcome that reflects the way patients feel and function. Assessing the impact of a condition on quality of life is particularly relevant in symptomatic conditions such as the menopause. A range of measurement tools are available for monitoring how symptoms, typical of the climacteric period, affect patients with regard to their well-being, sleep disturbance, other somatic symptoms, cognitive function and sexual functioning. However, to gain a valid assessment of quality of life and the effects of treatment in the menopause, only standard and well-validated measurement tools should be used. The appropriateness of relying on the use of psychiatric rating scales to assess mood is questionable. Results obtained from an increasing number of controlled clinical studies indicate that treatment with oestrogen, in addition to alleviating vasomotor symptoms, can substantially improve patients' quality of life.     

Can urban methadone patients complete health utility assessments?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients to use two standardized health assessment tools to value health states related to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV treatment-associated side effects. An estimated 65-90% of MMT patients are chronically infected with HCV. METHODS: We employed qualitative methods to explore how patients completed computerized rating scale assessments and standard gamble utility assessments by (1) having them discuss their responses in a think-aloud interview immediately after each health state assessment, and (2) allowing them the opportunity to recalibrate prior responses after considering subsequent health states. RESULTS: MMT patients used the rating scale boundaries appropriately and used the standard gamble to rank the health states in an a priori logical order. A guided assessment approach that allowed recalibration provided additional insight into values assigned to the health states presented. CONCLUSION: MMT patients are able to perform the tasks associated with rating scale assessments and standard gamble utility assessments of HCV health states. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These assessment methods should be considered as a means to elicit MMT patients' values for HCV treatment, since the treatment outcome is uncertain but it is likely that side effects will adversely affect current health.     

A psychometric normative database for pre-liver transplantation evaluations. The Florida cohort 1991-1996

In this study, the authors describe the psychological characteristics of a large sample (N = 407) of adult patients evaluated for liver transplantation, and provide normative data on commonly used measures of cognitive functioning, affective status, psychosocial adjustment, coping, quality of life, and life satisfaction. The normative data suggest that the study's liver transplant candidates have poorer cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life when compared with available normative comparison groups, yet the former group is more comparable to medically ill peers on measures of anxiety, depression, psychosocial adjustment, and coping. Data also suggest a high rate of affective disturbance in liver transplant candidates. Results indicate the utility of normative data, such as the authors', for providing an appropriate comparison group for liver pretransplant candidates.     

Caregiver negative affect is a primary determinant of caregiver report of pediatric asthma quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life has increased in popularity as an outcome measure in health research. However, the measurement of quality of life has been questioned on methodologic grounds, as it often shows little association with objective measures of disease status. OBJECTIVE: For this report we studied the determinants of pediatric asthma caregiver report of quality of life and its relationship to disease burden. METHOD: Ninety-eight children who were admitted to a Pediatric Day Program for an asthma evaluation were enrolled in an outcome study. A complete set of medical records for the 2-year period before and after the admission was collected and systematically coded for health care utilization. Using the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire, data were collected at baseline, discharge, and year after the admission. Caregiver negative affect (anxiety and depression), measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory, was also collected at baseline and discharge. RESULTS: Caregiver report of quality of life was unrelated to health care utilization at baseline but instead was significantly related to baseline caregiver negative affect. A significant relationship between health care utilization and quality of life was present at followup. The Emotional Function scale from the quality of life measure can account for most of the relationship between quality of life and negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver affect may have a considerable influence on report of quality of life. Understanding the individual characteristics of the respondent is important when using a quality of life instrument as an outcome measure.     

Quality of well being in panic disorder: the assessment of psychiatric and general disability

BACKGROUND: Panic disorder is a common and debilitating anxiety disorder which significantly disrupts the lives of patients and their family members. Recent epidemiological studies and analyses of data from clinical trials suggest that patients with panic disorder suffer significant work and social dysfunction. The authors hypothesized that this dysfunction could be characterized using both a well-validated, generalized scale of functioning and a specifically designed scale for assessing function in psychiatric patients and that these findings would correlate with symptomatology. METHOD: Fifty-six patients with panic disorder were characterized using the Sheehan Disability Scale, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Scale. Measures of health related quality of life from the Quality of Well Being Scale were compared with ratings for matched, historical, and population controls. RESULTS: Patients with panic disorder lost 39 quality-adjusted days for each year that they lived with the disorder. This decrease in quality of life is similar to what is observed in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. Diminished quality of life is correlated with the number of panic attacks, state anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These patients also demonstrated significant dysfunction in Sheehan total disability and subscale scores, including work-related functioning. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the specific disabilities inherent in panic disorder can be linked to declines in quality of life as measured by the Quality of Well Being Scale and by measures of work-related dysfunction. Such an association between disease specific measures and a generalized measure of health related quality of life may offer clinicians a new tool to understand panic disorder and to conceptualize it within the broader context of disease and disability.     

Pediatric health-related quality of life questionnaires in clinical trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent studies on the feasibility, reliability and validity of pediatric health-related quality of life questionnaires and gives an overview of recent applications of these measures in pediatrics. RECENT FINDINGS: The often-applied short form of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28) provides reliable physical and psychosocial summary measures, but reliable estimates for each scale require the longer version (CHQ-PF50). In addition to this questionnaire, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory is another reliable and valid measure. The TNO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life questionnaire is a feasible and reliable measure for preschool children. Generally, generic questionnaires are less sensitive to the impact of specific diseases than are disease-specific questionnaires. Parent and self-reports provide different outlooks on quality of life, which complement each other. SUMMARY: There are several feasible, reliable and validated pediatric quality of life questionnaires that can be used in clinical trials. These include generic and disease-specific questionnaires and health profile measures, as well as preference-based measures in pediatric settings. Generally, a combination of these types of questionnaires would be the most appropriate approach. Moreover, a combination of parent and self-reports should be applied. Appropriate selection of outcome measures will enhance the quality of pediatric studies and the ability to assess treatment effects in clinical trials.     

Evaluating the utility of personal genomic information

In evaluating the utility of human genome-wide assays, the answer will differ depending on why the question is asked. For purposes of regulating medical tests, a restrictive sense of clinical utility is used, although it may be possible to have clinical utility without changing patient's outcomes and clinical utility may vary between patients. For purposes of using limited third party or public health resources, cost effectiveness should be evaluated in a societal rather than individual context. However, for other health uses of genomic information a broader sense of overall utility should be used. Behavioral changes and increased individual awareness of health-related choices are relevant metrics for evaluating the personal utility of genomic information, even when traditional clinical benefits are not manifested. In taking account of personal utility, cost effectiveness may be calculated on an individual and societal basis. Overall measures of utility (including both restrictive clinical measures and measures of personal utility) may vary significantly between individuals depending on potential changes in lifestyle, health awareness and behaviors, family dynamics, and personal choice and interest as well as the psychological effects of disease risk perception. That interindividual variation suggests that a more expansive overall measure of utility could be used to identify individuals who are more likely to benefit from personal genomic information as well as those for whom the risks of personal information may be greater than any benefits.     

Health-related quality-of-life measures for children with asthma: reliability and validity of the Children's Health Survey for Asthma and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Asthma Module.

BACKGROUND: Economically disadvantaged African American youth are especially vulnerable to the effects of pediatric asthma and are at increased risk for difficulties in daily functioning. Measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) yield important information regarding the impact of pediatric chronic illness on daily functioning. It is essential to develop and validate measures of HRQoL to detect the impact of asthma on this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychometric properties of 2 asthma-specific measures of pediatric HRQoL in a sample of economically disadvantaged African American children diagnosed as having asthma. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven caregivers completed questionnaires regarding their child's HRQoL, asthma symptoms, health care utilization, and school absences and regarding caregiver emotional distress. The severity of the child's asthma was measured via spirometry. RESULTS: The Children's Health Survey for Asthma and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Asthma Module demonstrated adequate internal consistency reliability and validity for the present sample. Lower HRQoL was associated with poorer adherence and more health care utilization, asthma symptom days, school absences, and caregiver distress. Only the Children's Health Survey for Asthma was significantly associated with severity, when defined as airway obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the psychometric equivalence of 2 condition-specific measures of HRQoL in a population at high risk for asthma and asthma-related problems. The utility of each measure will depend on the needs of the researcher or physician. Both measures can inform the treatment course, help identify and address barriers to treatment adherence, and inform treatment interventions.     

Health-related quality of life in allergic rhinitis: comparing the short form ESPRINT-15 and MiniRQLQ questionnaires

BACKGROUND: We compared the psychometric properties of the ESPRINT-15, the short form of a new Spanish instrument to measure health-related quality of life in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, with those of the Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ). METHODS: The questionnaires were compared in Spanish patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) or persistent AR in a prospective, observational study. Floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC), convergent and known groups validity, and sensitivity to change (standardized response means; SRMs) were compared. RESULTS: In terms of content, while the MiniRQLQ has a dimension covering practical problems and places more emphasis on symptoms, the ESPRINT-15 has two dimensions (Sleep and Psychological impact) which are not included in the MiniRQLQ. In the validation study, 400 patients were included and 59% of the sample had persistent AR. There were no significant floor or ceiling effects on any dimension on either questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha values for the ESPRINT-15 and MiniRQLQ overall scores were 0.92 and 0.90, respectively. In 48 clinically stable patients, ICCs were 0.80 and 0.77, respectively. Both instruments discriminated between patients with IAR and persistent AR. Correlations with symptom scores and generic measures were moderate to strong. SRMs for overall scores and individual dimensions on the two questionnaires in the 197 patients reporting a change in health status ranged from 0.7 to 1.3. CONCLUSIONS: Both questionnaires performed well in psychometric terms. The ESPRINT-15 is particularly recommended for use in Spanish-speaking populations.     

Meaning in life and physical health: systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the associations between meaning in life and physical health using random-effects models. Conceptualisation of meaning (order in world vs. purpose in life), type of health indicators, participants’ health status, and age issues were investigated as moderators. Systematic searches of six databases resulted in inclusion of k?=?66 studies (total N?=?73,546). Findings indicated that meaning in life and physical health formed weak-to-moderate associations (the overall estimate of the average effect?=?0.258). Conceptualisation of meaning, participants’ health status, and their age did not moderate these associations. Operationalisation of health moderated the relationship between meaning in life and health. The strongest associations were found for subjective indicators of physical health. Significant albeit weak associations between meaning in life and objective indices of health were found. Furthermore, stronger effects were observed when the measures of meaning combined items referring to meaning in life and meaning-related sense of harmony, peace, and well-being, compared to measures focusing solely on meaning in life. Overall, the results point to the potential role of meaning in life in explaining physical health.     

实施健康教育对A型性格冠心病患者生活质量的影响

目的探讨健康教育对A型性格冠心病患者生活质量的影响。方法选择住院的176例A型性格冠心病患者随机分成两组,观察组和对照组各88人,两组病人在进行常规治疗的同时观察组同步实施健康教育。在病人入院时和入院后8周,采取生活质量指数评定量表,分别对两组病人的生活质量进行评分和记录。结果实施健康教育8周,观察组总体生活质量(5.86±1.046)明显高于对照组(3.42±0.703),差异有显著意义(P0.01);组内比较,观察组总体生活质量(5.86±1.046)明显高于入院时(3.64±0.798),差异有显著意义(P0.01)。结论对A型性格冠心病患者实施合理完善的健康教育,对于改善患者的生活质量是十分重要的。     

Development of observational rating scales for evaluating patient-centered communication within a whole health approach to care

ContextTeaching and evaluating patient-centered communication (PCC) skills that incorporate holistic approaches are increasingly relevant.ObjectiveThis study describes the development of the Observational Whole Health Measure (OWHM) for evaluating the extent to which primary care providers in the Veterans Health Administration engaged in PCC in the context of a holistic approach to care known as “Whole Health.”Design and SettingObservational rating scales were created based on content from a national whole health clinical education program in the VA and refined from audio recordings of patient-provider interactions in primary care clinical encounters. Unpaired t-tests and Cohen's d were conducted to measure overall quality of what really matters and whole health goal setting and plan development.Participants65 clinical encounters across 8 providers before and after participating in the training were included for analysis.InterventionThe intervention used for creating rating scales is a 2.5 day whole health clinical education program designed to teach providers PCC skills to identify what matters most for the patients and develop a patient-centered health plan that incorporates integrative health approaches to care.Main outcome measureQuality scores (0–4) were used to measure number of instances and extent to which providers explored what matters most to patients, dimensions of whole health, and development of a whole health plan tailored to patient's goals.ResultsWe developed the Observational Whole Health Measure (OWHM) that captures changes in provider communication. Significant differences in overall quality of whole health goal setting and plan development were detected between pre- and post-encounters, demonstrating a sensitivity to change. With the rise of integrative health approaches being adopted across clinical settings, the observational rating scales created in this study are likely to have increasing relevance.     

阿尔茨海默病患者照料者生命质量与社会支持的关系

目的:探讨阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者照料者生命质量水平的现状以及影响生命质量的因素,反映AD患者照料者的身心健康水平,同时为AD患者照料者的相关研究提供理论依据。方法:采用健康测量量表(SF-36)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)对200名AD患者照料者进行问卷调查。结果:(1)不同居住地的AD患者照料者在生理功能(t=-4.324,P0.001)、生理职能(t=-2.902,P0.01)、身体疼痛(t=3.918,P0.001)、总体健康(t=-4.041,P0.001)、社会支持各维度及社会支持总分(t=-5.787,P0.001)上存在差异;(2)与患者关系不同的AD患者照料者在生理功能(F=4.057,P0.05)、生理职能(F=6.808,P0.01)、身体疼痛(F=25.768,P0.001)、总体健康(F=8.448,P0.001)、活力(F=10.514,P0.001)、社会功能(F=3.235,P0.05)、精神健康(F=7.078,P0.01)、社会支持各维度上及社会支持总分(F=11.939,P0.001)、生命质量总分(F=3.531,P0.05)差异具有显著性;(3)不同家庭人均月收入的AD患者照料者在生命质量各维度(除精神健康)及社会支持总分(F=3.718~30.938,P0.001)上差异具有显著性;(4)社会支持得分与生命质量总分、生理职能、情感职能、总体健康、精神健康均呈显著正相关(r=0.315,0.361,0.243,0.384,0.283;P0.01)。结论:(1)AD患者照料者的生命质量、社会支持水平受居住地、与患者关系、家庭人均月收入的影响。(2)社会支持越强,AD患者照料者的生命质量水平越高。     

Targeted drugs and Psycho-oncological intervention for breast cancer patients

Personalized medicine is a new field based on molecular biology and genomics in which targeted tumor therapies are administered to patients. Psycho-oncology is a complementary approach that considers social and psychological aspects of patients as part of the treatments for cancer patients.The aim of this mini-review is to weigh clinical benefits for breast cancer patients of both treatments and possibily enhance benefits by modulating the use of both interventions. We have compared and evaluated on the one hand the use of anti Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and, on the other hand, psycho-oncological interventions in metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer patients.Both treatments did not increase survival of metastatic breast cancer patients, while in a selected study psycho-oncological interventions extended lifespan of non-metastatic breast cancer patients and ameliorate psychological and social factors of metastatic breast cancer patients. Because the two approaches address completely different aspects of cancer patients, if the comparison is limited to the extension of survival, the value of these two treatments cannot be assessed and compared.It is likely that by comparing patients reported outcomes, possibly by using standardized Quality of Life questionnaires, both patients and health care providers can weigh the benefits of the two treatments. It is therefore important to evaluate the use of cancer patients’ quality of life measures as a mean to improve their experiences about life and treatment, and possibly to extend their survival.     

Cost-effectiveness of Raltegravir in Antiretroviral Treatment-Experienced HIV-1–Infected Patients in Switzerland

Abstract

Objectives: Raltegravir, a novel integrase inhibitor, has shown great efficacy in reducing HIV viral load among treatment-experienced patients. A cohort state-transition model was used to assess the long-term effect of raltegravir treatment on costs and quality-adjusted life expectancy from a Swiss perspective. Methods: Patients were stratified into health states according to opportunistic infection status, HIV RNA level, and CD4 count, with each group assigned a treatment cost and utility (quality of life) score. Model inputs came from published studies, clinical trials, and database analyses. Results were used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of raltegravir use, expressed in Swiss francs (CHF) as incremental cost/qualityadjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Future costs and QALYs were discounted at 3% per year. Results: Five years of raltegravir treatment increased discounted qualityadjusted life expectancy by 3.73 years over placebo, with additional discounted cost of CHF 170,347, resulting in an ICER of CHF 45,687/QALY. ICERs ranged from CHF 42,751 to 53,478/QALY for treatment duration of 3 and 10 years, respectively. Results were most sensitive to changes in raltegravir treatment duration, source of estimated quality of life weights, and raltegravir price. Conclusions: Adding raltegravir to optimized background therapy was a cost-effective strategy for treatmentexperienced patients in Switzerland.     

北京地区心理门诊从业人员生活质量和CPI分析

目的：调查北京地区心理门诊从业人员的生活质量和个性特点，探寻整体心理健康状况。方法：采用生活质量综合评定问卷（GQOLI-74）和中国修订加利福尼亚心理调查表（CPI-RC），对北京高校和三甲医院心理门诊从业人员进行调查。结果：心理门诊从业人员整体在生活质量、心理功能和主观满意度上。评价均高于对照组。总体的进取能力、社交性、通情、独立成就、智力效率、心理感受性和灵活性分值较高．自我实现水平高。结论：从业人员整体生活质量好。主观满意度高；整体心理健康状况较好，心理成熟度较高。