Quality of life after total and subtotal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma

BackgroundThere remains debate as to whether quality of life (QoL) is better for patients following sub-total gastrectomy (SG) or total gastrectomy (TG) for cancer. Both have similar survival rates provided an R0 resection is performed and in many series the morbidity and mortality after TG is higher than SG. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL in patients after TG and SG for cancer.MethodAll surviving patients who had undergone TG or SG between 1994 and 2009 were identified from a prospectively collected database and sent the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (QLQ-C30 v.3) and the gastric module (QLQ-STO22).ResultsFrom a total of 261 patients who had undergone TG or SG in the study period, 91 were still alive and 53 responded. There was no significant difference between the QoL between TG and SG based on functional scales and global health status. However dysphagia and eating restrictions were significantly worse in the TG group.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that there is no difference in overall QoL in patients with TG or SG although eating restrictions and dysphagia are worse after TG.     

Contextualizing the lived experience of quality of life for persons with spinal cord injury: A mixed-methods application of the response shift model

Objective: The objective of this study was to gain greater insight into individuals’ quality of life (QOL) definitions, appraisals, and adaptations following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: A mixed-methods design, applying the Schwartz and Sprangers response shift (RS) model. RS is a cognitive process wherein, in response to a change in health status, individuals change internal standards, values, or conceptualization of QOL

Setting: Community-dwelling participants who receive medical treatment at a major Midwestern medical system and nearby Veterans’ Affairs hospital.

Participants: A purposive sample of participants with SCI (N?=?40) completed semi-structured interviews and accompanying quantitative measures.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Outcome Measures: Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to identify themes. Analysis of variance were performed to detect differences based on themes and QOL, well-being, and demographic and injury characteristics.

Results: Four RS themes were identified, capturing the range of participant perceptions of QOL. The themes ranged from complete RS, indicating active engagement in maintaining QOL, to awareness and comparisons redefining QOL, to a relative lack of RS. Average QOL ratings differed as a function of response shift themes. PROMIS Global Health, Anxiety, and Depression also differed as a function of RS themes.

Conclusion: The RS model contextualizes differences in QOL definitions, appraisals, and adaptations in a way standardized QOL measures alone do not.     

Impact of new technologies on diabetes care

Technologies for diabetes management, such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, have improved remarkably over the last decades. These developments are impacting the capacity to achieve recommended hemoglobin A1c levels and assisting in preventing the development and progression of micro- and macro vascular complications. While improvements in metabolic control and decreases in risk of severe and moderate hypoglycemia have been described with use of these technologies, large epidemiological international studies show that many patients are still unable to meet their glycemic goals, even when these technologies are used. This editorial will review the impact of technology on glycemic control, hypoglycemia and quality of life in children and youth with type 1 diabetes. Technologies reviewed include CSII, CGM systems and sensor-augmented insulin pumps. In addition, the usefulness of advanced functions such as bolus profiles, bolus calculators and threshold-suspend features will be also discussed. Moreover, the current editorial will explore the challenges of using these technologies. Indeed, despite the evidence currently available of the potential benefits of using advanced technologies in diabetes management, many patients still report barriers to using them. Finally this article will highlight the importance of future studies tailored toward overcome these barriers to optimizing glycemic control and avoiding severe hypoglycemia.     

Avanzando en la sistematización del benchmarking en servicios de salud pública

Continuous management improvement should be an aspiration for all public sector organizations. External comparison or benchmarking identifies good practices in similar organizations. For public health services, it is not easy to obtain such indicators. The objectives of this paper are to describe the process of conducting a benchmarking exercise for a public health agency, and to share its results. For this purpose, agencies that may be compared were identified, and their websites were searched for annual reports or other documents with indicators of the activities or results of public health services. Limitations and contextual aspects of the indicators of the different organizations were identified, as well as ways to improve their comparability. Finally, a set of 19 indicators is proposed, as an initial core for quality management comparisons.     

螺旋断层治疗系统的质量保证

螺旋断层治疗系统(HT)是一种集调强放射治疗和影像引导放射治疗于一体的放射治疗系统,是目前最先进的放疗设备之一。考虑其与常规直线加速器质量保证的差异,由国家癌症中心/国家肿瘤质控中心提出,多家医疗单位共同参与制定了本指南。指南包括国内医疗机构HT用于临床工作的验收项目、操作制度、应急预案等内容,明确了质量控制的测试方法、评价标准、检测频率。指南结合国内医疗单位实际情况给出了推荐性检测项目,主要包括机械精度、剂量输出与分布、激光定位系统、治疗床运动精度、MVCT影像系统质控检测、临床治疗计划验证等具体实施方法步骤,使得指南具有很强的可操作性。本指南能给临床工作人员提供质量保证技术指导,使HT质量保证工作有章可循,可提高放射治疗的准确性和精度。对国内各医疗机构建立规范HT质量保证体系具有指导意义。     

The effect of short or long sleep duration on quality of life and depression: an internet-based survey in Japan

BackgroundTo date, no previous studies have evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and quality of life (QOL) or depression in the general population after controlling for daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances.MethodsA web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 8698 subjects aged 20–69 years. We examined the relationships between weekday sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbance, QOL and depression, using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (without the item for sleep duration), 8-item Short Form and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).ResultsDaytime sleepiness tended to increase in proportion to shorter weekday sleep durations. Sleep disturbances, physical and mental QOL, and CES-D scores were worse in both the shorter and longer sleep groups compared with the group with 7–8 h of sleep. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that short sleep duration but not long sleep duration was significantly associated with reduction of both physical and mental QOL, even after controlling for the presence of daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbance. Both short and long sleep duration were independently and significantly correlated with depression after controlling for daytime sleepiness; however, there was no statistically significant association after adjusting for the effects of sleep disturbance.ConclusionsThe results suggested adverse effects of short sleep but not long sleep on both physical and mental QOL. In addition, the negative impact of specific types of sleep disturbance on depression may be greater than the impact of shortening of sleep duration.     

Impulsive and compulsive behaviors in Parkinson's disease: Impact on quality of and satisfaction with life,and caregiver burden

IntroductionTo disentangle the association between impulsive and compulsive behaviors (ICBs), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), satisfaction with life (SwL), and caregiver distress in dyads of people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) and caregivers.MethodsData used in this study were obtained from the ongoing Norwegian ParkWest study, a population-based longitudinal cohort study of the incidence, neurobiology and prognosis of PD in Western Norway. One hundred and one dyads of PwP free of dementia and their caregivers were included 5 years after PD diagnosis and inclusion in the ParkWest study. Standardized clinical rating scales were used to evaluate ICBs, HRQOL, SwL and caregiver distress.ResultsOf 101 PwP-caregiver dyads, self-reported ICBs were seen in 33% of PwP and only caregiver-reported ICBs in 12% of PwP. PwP-reported ICBs were associated with poorer HRQOL and SwL, whereas ICBs reported by caregivers only were associated with increased caregiver distress, but not poorer HRQOL or SwL in PwP.ConclusionsICBs have adverse effects on HRQOL, SwL and caregiver distress. These findings underpin the need for proper identification and management of ICBs in PwP.