Effects of dog-assisted intervention on quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia

Background: People with dementia often have a poor quality of life. Therefore, methods that can improve their life situation must be identified. One promising method is dog-assisted intervention.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dog-assisted intervention on quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia.

Materials and methods: A one-group, pretest post-test study design was used. Quality of life was measured using the QUALID in 59 nursing home residents prior to and after a dog-assisted intervention. Non-parametric tests were used to analyze the data, and effect sizes were calculated.

Results: The participants’ total scores improved significantly between baseline and post-test 1 (p?=?<?0.001) and worsened significantly at post-test 2 (p?=?0.025). The largest effect size was found for the item ‘Verbalization suggests discomfort’ (p?=?0.001).

Conclusion: The results indicate that dog-assisted interventions can have positive effects on quality of life in nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia.

Significance: The results contribute to a growing knowledge base about non-pharmacological methods that can be used in dementia care. Occupational therapists should consider dog-assisted interventions when planning activities that can reduce the illness burden and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.     

认知行为疗法对支气管哮喘儿童焦虑抑郁及生活质量的影响研究

目的 探讨认知行为疗法对支气管哮喘儿童焦虑、抑郁及生活质量的影响。方法 选取2022年1—6月在某专科医院哮喘专病门诊就诊的支气管哮喘患儿80例作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其随机分为对照组和观察组,每组各40例。对照组采取门诊随访的常规护理措施;观察组在对照组的基础上给予认知行为疗法干预,干预前后采用医院焦虑抑郁量表(HADS)、儿童哮喘生活质量问卷(PAQLQ)对患儿进行焦虑、抑郁和生活质量评估,比较采用t检验、χ²检验等。结果 干预前2组患儿焦虑、抑郁评分和PAQLQ各项得分差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。干预后,观察组焦虑评分(6.04±1.44)分,低于对照组的(9.11±2.55)分(t=6.630,P<0.001),观察组抑郁评分(5.85±1.78)分,低于对照组(9.06±2.28)分(t=7.019,P<0.001)。观察组PAQLQ的症状(54.16±11.09)分、活动(28.62±5.14)分、情感功能(46.26±7.01)分,均高于对照组的(43.88±10.06)分、(20.82±4.46)分、(33.76±...     

胃癌患者焦虑/抑郁及其与生命意义关系的研究

目的 调查胃癌患者焦虑/抑郁水平,探讨其与生命意义（meaning of life,MOL）之间的关系。方法 采用病例对照的研究方法,对165例25~83岁于三级甲等医院肿瘤科住院的胃癌患者和同期165例门诊确诊为浅表性胃炎患者,用心理弹性量表、MOL量表、医院焦虑抑郁量表、一般资料调查表进行调查。结果 胃癌患者焦虑/抑郁水平较高,MOL水平较低;MOL和胃癌患者焦虑/抑郁呈负相关（r=-0.291,P<0.001）;MOL在心理弹性和胃癌患者焦虑/抑郁之间起中介作用。结论 MOL的重构可以增强患者心理弹性,对胃癌患者焦虑、抑郁情绪有预测作用。这一发现有助于为胃癌患者焦虑、抑郁的预防及临床研究提供新的思路及参考依据。     

Positive effects of art therapy on depression and self-esteem of older adults in nursing homes

Depression and self‐esteem affects the health and quality of life of older adults who live in nursing homes. This study tested the effectiveness of art therapy activities on reducing the depression and improving the self-esteem of elderly living in long‐term care institutes. This was a quasi‐experimental study. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select 55 subjects who were aged 65 and above with intact mental functions and depression tendencies and currently residing in nursing homes in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 29 subjects who participated in a selection of 12 artistic activities were assigned to the experimental group and 26 subjects who adhered to their ordinary activities were allocated to the control group. Structured questionnaires of the artistic group were used for data collection. The art therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the depression and self‐esteem of older adults living in nursing homes. Art therapy activities benefit the mental health of older adults. Incorporating artistic activities into social work care may help develop long‐term care into a more diverse, unique, and innovative direction.     

Symptoms, ill-health and quality of life in a support group of Porton Down veterans

BACKGROUND: There has been a Human Volunteer Programme at the British chemical weapons research facility at Porton Down since the First World War, in which some of the participants were exposed to chemical warfare agents. AIM: To identify any striking specific morbidity patterns in members of the Porton Down Veterans Support Group (PDVSG). METHODS: A self-completed postal questionnaire was prepared including health immediately after the visits to Porton Down, subsequent diagnoses and hospital admissions, symptoms in, and after, the first 5 years after the visits, fatigue symptoms and current quality of life, measured using the SF-36. RESULTS: Responses were received from 289 of 436 (66%). Results reported here relate to 269 male respondents of mean age 66.8 years. Sixty-six per cent reported their first visit to Porton Down in the 1950s. The most common diagnoses or hospital admissions reported were diseases of the circulatory system. In the first 5 years after their visits the most common symptoms were headache, irritability or outbursts of anger and feeling un-refreshed after sleep. In the later period, most common symptoms were fatigue, feeling un-refreshed after sleep and sleeping difficulties. Sixty-five per cent met the definition for a case of 'fatigue'. Current quality of life dimensions were consistently lower than age-specific estimates from general population samples. CONCLUSIONS: Members of the PDVSG responding to this survey reported poorer quality of life than the general population. Despite there being no clear pattern of specific morbidities, we cannot rule out ill-health being potentially associated with past experience at Porton Down.     

Quality of life from the viewpoint of patients with dementia in Japan: nurturing through an acceptance of dementia by patients, their families and care professionals

The quality of life (QoL) of patients with dementia was investigated from the patient's viewpoint, and the role of an acceptance of dementia in maintaining important and distinctive elements of QoL was analysed by questionnaire and interview methods. The subjects of the present study were 18 patients, 21 family members and eight members of staff at a day-care facility in Japan. Patients with dementia hoped to maintain an 'ordinary' way of life. Living peacefully, living together, living healthily and helping each other were considered by patients with dementia to be the important elements of their QoL. Living happily in the present is important, but hopes and expectations for the maintenance of human values in their future lives are of greater importance in their estimation of QoL. Through recognizing these needs, a culture and understanding of 'living with dementia' can be nurtured. A dynamic process involving the mutual acceptance of dementia in the relationships between patients with dementia, their families and care professionals enabled elderly people to surmount their initial troubles, and to recoup and activate their former humane attitudes. Positive thinking reappeared and new forms of relationships emerged. The patients, their families and the care professionals came to understand each other better and gained the sense of 'living together'. The process began with 'confronting' the situation and progressed to the final stage of 'acceptance': the patient with dementia was confronted with the dementia itself, the family was confronted with the elderly person as a human being, and the care professional was confronted with her or himself. At first, the care professionals had felt a sense of social responsibility for delivering justice, but they had gradually noticed that they were themselves relieved of the strain resulting from these attitudes. Acceptance of dementia by the care professional was important in carrying forward this dynamic process, which helps to ensure the desired QoL for the patient with dementia.     

心理护理干预对抑郁症患者治疗依从性及生活质量的影响

目的探讨心理护理干预对抑郁症患者治疗依从性及生活质量的影响。方法将92例抑郁症患者随机分为观察组与对照组各46例两组。患者均采用帕罗西汀药物治疗,对照组给予常规的治疗护理,观察组在对照组的基础上给予系统的心理护理干预,连续治疗12周,比较两组患者治疗效果,并评价患者治疗依从性及生活质量的改善情况。结果观察组抑郁症治疗总有效率为86.96%,对照组为69.56%,两组差异显著(P<0.05);观察组总依从率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后随访6个月,两组生活质量均明显提高,观察组提高幅度显著优于对照组(P<0.05);观察组复发率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论心理护理干预能提高抑郁症治疗疗效,增强患者治疗依从性,改善生活质量,降低复发率。     

补充维生素D对光动力疗法治疗食管癌患者生命质量的影响

目的 探讨补充维生素D(VitD)对光动力疗法(PDT)治疗食管癌患者负性情绪及生命质量的影响。方法 150例食管癌患者按随机数字表法分为对照组和干预组。两组患者均接受PDT治疗,干预组在治疗前1周开始接受800 IU维生素D3口服,持续时间6个月。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)测定血清VitD水平、焦虑自评量表(SAS)和心境状态量表(POMS)评测心境状态、生活质量表(QOL)评测生活质量。结果 治疗后,干预组生活质量提高率和焦虑明显缓解率(81.1%、85.1%)显著高于对照组(52.1%、56.1%),差异有统计学意义(分别〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗＝13.247,P＝0.001,〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗＝14.904,P＝0.001))。治疗前,2组患者POMS、QOL评分、VitD水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);治疗后,干预组POMS的紧张-焦虑、忧郁-沮丧、疲惫-惰性维度、活力-好动评分以及QOL评分均优于对照组、VitD水平高于对照组(P＜0.05)。结论 补充VitD有助于降低接受PDT治疗食管癌患者的负性情绪、提高患者生命质量。     

农村社区老年人抑郁状况及对生命质量影响

目的了解农村社区老年人的抑郁状况，并探讨其与老年人生命质量的关系，为增进老年健康提供科学依据。方法对湖南省衡阳市农村社区中的老年人（年龄≥60岁），采用多阶抽样方法抽样，利用SF-36量表和流行病学调查用抑郁自评量表（CES—D），对衡阳市农村老年人进行生命质量、抑郁状况评分。结果衡阳市农村社区老年人抑郁的总发生率为32．68％，男性为25．65％，女性为44．35％；老年女性抑郁发生率显著高于男性（72=12．10，P〈0．01）。老年人抑郁发生率有随年龄增加而上升的趋势，且不同年龄组（60岁～、70岁～、80岁）间差异有统计学意义（X^2=49．50，P〈0．01）。丧偶老年人抑郁发生率显著高于配偶健在老年人（X^2=4．81，P〈0．05）。医药费自负的老年人抑郁发生率显著高于有医保的老年人（X^2=17．20，P〈0．01）。生命质量中的生理功能、社会功能、情感职能和精神健康分值均与抑郁呈负相关，且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论衡阳市农村社区老年人抑郁的总发生率为32．68％，他们生命质量中的生理功能、社会功能、情感职能和精神健康分值均与抑郁呈负相关。     

肝硬化患者焦虑抑郁情绪及生活质量的调查与干预

目的调查肝硬化患者焦虑、抑郁水平及社会支持与生活质量状况,找到干预患者情绪状况、改善生活质量的有效途径。方法运用基本问卷、躯体状态、医用焦虑抑郁量表、社会支持量表、诺丁汉健康量表对175例肝硬化患者问卷调查。结果 HADS-A均值≥9分的170例(97.7%),HADS-D均值≥9分的155例(89.1%),患者普遍存在焦虑抑郁情绪。3组不同年龄段患者在主观支持(P=0.005)、疼痛(P=0.012)、社交(P=0.040)、活动(P=0.012)、诺丁汉健康量表总分(P=0.024)方面存在显著差异,抑郁、客观支持、并发症和、主观支持对预测诺丁汉健康量表总分作用显著。结论肝硬化患者年龄、抑郁情绪、病情严重情况、社会支持对患者的生活质量影响明显,在进行心理干预时,可从抑郁情绪、社会支持入手,对不同年龄阶段的患者给予有针对性的团体心理干预,提高患者的生活质量。     

Effects of a group physical activity program on physical fitness and quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week group physical activity (PA) program on physical fitness and quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia.MethodsNineteen outpatients with schizophrenia were divided into experimental (EG) (n = 8; mean age 39 ± 7 years) and control (CG) (n = 11; mean age 40 ± 6 years) groups. The EG underwent twice a week sessions of a group PA program for a period of 16-week. The participants completed a battery of tests at baseline and after 16-week, which included the assessment of body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), functional exercise capacity (6MWT), physical activity levels (accelerometers), quality of life (WHOQOL-Brief), and anthropometric measures. During the program different strategies were implemented to ensure the participants' adherence.ResultsThe attendance to the program was 79.7%. In the EG a significant decrease was observed in hip circumference (p = 0.02); a significant increase occurred in moderate to vigorous physical activity (p = 0.05) and in the environment domain (WHOQOL-Brief) (p = 0.02). The improvement in environment domain scores was also associated with a decrease in sedentary behavior (r = −0.82, p = 0.01) in the EG.ConclusionsThe strategies used during the program promoted a high rate of attendance. PA may have a positive impact on the participants' ability to perform activities of daily living. This study showed that a group PA program can be successfully implemented for outpatients with schizophrenia and can influence their quality of life and PA levels.     

孤独感对养老机构老年人生活质量的影响:抑郁与衰弱的链式中介作用

目的 探究抑郁与衰弱在孤独感与养老机构老年人生活质量之间的中介作用。方法 使用老年抑郁量表、Tilburg衰弱量表、孤独感量表及SF-12简明健康调査量表对183名养老机构老年人进行测查,采用偏差校正的百分位 Bootstrap 法（Process 插件）进行链式中介检验。结果 孤独感与抑郁、衰弱呈正相关（r¹=0.71,r²=0.60,P＜0.01）,与生活质量呈负相关(r=-0.61,P＜0.01);回归模型显示,孤独感对养老机构老年人生活质量的直接效应有统计学意义（β=-0.14,P<0.05）,抑郁、衰弱在孤独感与生活质量之间的中介作用均有统计学意义（β¹=-0.11,β²=-0.16,P<0.05),且抑郁-衰弱的链式中介作用也有统计学意义（β=-0.19,P<0.05）。结论 孤独感既可直接预测老人的生活质量,又可分别通过抑郁、衰弱的中介作用,以及抑郁-衰弱的链式中介作用间接预测生活质量。     

Improvements in health-related quality of life following a group intervention for coping with AIDS-bereavement among HIV-infected men and women

Background: AIDS-related bereavement is a severe life stressor that may be particularly distressing to persons themselves infected with HIV. Increasing evidence suggests that psychological health is associated with disease progression, HIV-related symptoms, and mortality. Purpose: This study assessed change in health-related quality of life among HIV+ persons following a group intervention for coping with AIDS-related loss. Methods: The sample included 235 HIV+ men and women of diverse ethnicities and sexual orientations who had experienced an AIDS-related loss within the previous 2 years. Participants were randomly assigned to a 12-week cognitive-behavioral bereavement coping group intervention or offered individual psychotherapy upon request. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results: Participants in the group intervention demonstrated improvements in general health-related and HIV-specific quality of life, while those in the comparison remained the same or deteriorated. Effect sizes indicated that the majority of change occurred in women. Conclusion: This bereavement group aimed at improving coping with grief also had a positive impact on health-related quality of life among HIV+ men and women, and suggests that cognitive-behavioral interventions may have a broad impact on both emotional and physical health.     

围绝经期综合征妇女实施综合疗法效果分析

目的探讨围绝经期综合征患者实施综合疗法的效果,为临床治疗提供依据。方法将120例围绝经期综合征患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,各60例。对照组采用安慰剂和常规健康教育,治疗组则采用综合疗法。比较两组患者的主要临床症状、血液生化指标和生活质量。结果治疗组治疗后的潮热出汗、腰背/头痛、情绪不稳、心悸、失眠等临床症状发生率均明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）;治疗组的促卵泡成熟激素（FSH）、黄体生成激素（LH）、碱性磷酸酶（AKP）、总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）均明显低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而治疗组的雌二醇（E2）、孕激素（P）则明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）;治疗组治疗后的生理功能、心理状态、独立性、社会关系、生存环境、总分等生存质量评分均明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论围绝经期综合征妇女实施综合疗法后,可明显缓解主要临床症状,改善血液生化指标,提高生活质量。     

综合康复理疗对支气管哮喘患者肺功能和生活质量的影响

目的 探讨综合康复理疗对支气管哮喘患者肺功能和生活质量的影响。方法 随机将116例支气管哮喘患者均分为对照组和观察组。两组患者均给予常规的健康教育和护理及对症处理,在此基础上,观察组患者给予综合康复理疗。干预前后采集日间、夜间症状积分,哮喘控制测试（asthma control test,ACT）,支气管哮喘生命质量调査问卷（bronchial asthma quality of life questionnaire,AQLQ）数据和肺功能指标：一秒钟用力呼气量占预计值百分比（percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second,FEV₁%）,FEV₁/用力肺活量（forced vital capacity,FVC）。结果 干预后两组夜间症状积分和日间症状积分均低于干预前,组内比较干预后ACT积分高于干预前,差异均有统计学意义（均有P<0.05）。干预后观察组AQLQ总分及各维度评分均高于对照组（均有P<0.05）,组内比较各指标干预前后,除对照组的环境刺激得分前后比较差异无统计学意义（t=1.206,P=0.233）,其他各指标差异均有统计学意义（均有P<0.05）。干预后,组间FEV₁/FVC差异有统计学意义（t=2.430,P=0.017）;组内比较：FEV₁/FVC指标,观察组干预前后比较差异有统计学意义（t=2.108,P=0.040）。结论 综合康复理疗有助于改善支气管哮喘患者肺功能和生活质量,提升医疗护理服务质量。     

家长健康信念模式对脑瘫患儿康复效果及生活质量的影响

目的 探讨脑瘫患儿实施健康信念模式对其康复效果及生活质量的影响。方法 选择2017年6月—2018年6月某医院收治的脑瘫患儿80例,根据随机数表法分为两组,每组各40例。对照组脑瘫患儿给予常规出院指导,观察组实施健康信念模式进行家庭护理干预。对比分析两组患儿康复效果及生活质量的改善效果。结果 观察组干预后生活自理能力、运动功能评分分别为(66.5±6.6)分、(182.2±33.5)分,均高于对照组的(51.3±7.6)分、(158.2±29.1)分;干预后日常功能、生理功能、心理状况、交际能力评分分别为(75.5±11.2)分、(80.5±14.9)分、(76.8±11.1)分、(78.1±11.8)分,均高于对照组(69.2±9.8)分、(66.2±13.4)分、(67.7±10.5)分、(70.8±10.5)分,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 脑瘫患儿实施健康信念模式护理可有效改善其康复效果,利于提高患儿生活质量。     

白血病患儿的生存质量及其影响因素调查

目的:调查白血病患儿的生存质量(QOL),探讨影响其QOL的相关因素。方法:选择2006年1月～2011年5月接受治疗的白血病患儿364例,同时配对选取364例健康儿童作为对照组,采用自拟的调查问卷和生存质量普适性核心量表(PedsQL4.0)对两组儿童的生存质量进行调查,分析相关因素对白血病患儿的生存质量的影响。结果:白血病患儿生理功能、社会功能、角色功能以及情感功能等4个维度生命质量评分分别为(51.99±19.04)分、(65.30±17.37)分、(21.57±28.28)分和(59.61±15.42)分,生命质量平均评分为(50.07±14.06)分,显著低于正常儿童(P<0.01);患儿年龄、病情、家属文化程度、家庭收入、患儿住院次数和天数、社会帮助程度和频率与白血病患儿的4个维度生命质量评分有统计学相关性(P<0.05)。结论:白血病患儿的生存质量明显低于正常儿童,患儿年龄、患病程度、家属文化程度、家庭收入、患儿住院次数和天数以及社会帮助等因素会影响患儿生存质量。     

团体心理治疗对中青年乳腺癌患者负性情绪和生活质量的影响

目的 探讨团体心理治疗对中青年乳腺癌患者情绪和生活质量的影响.方法 将88例中青年乳腺癌患者随机分为两组.研究组采用常规治疗和团体心理治疗,对照组只采用常规治疗.两组治疗前后采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评表(SDS)及乳腺癌患者生命质量测定量表(FACT-B)进行评分,比较两组中青年乳腺癌患者焦虑、抑郁发生率及生活质量的差异.结果 研究组患者干预后焦虑及抑郁评分均低于对照组(P＜0.01);研究组患者干预后生存质量总分及各领域得分均高于对照组(P＜0.01);研究组患者干预后焦虑及抑郁评分均低于干预前(P＜0.01);研究组患者干预后生存质量总分及各领域得分均高于干预前(P＜0.01).结论 团体心理治疗可作为乳腺癌治疗一种辅助方案,能改善中青年乳腺癌患者负性情绪,提高其生活质量,增加其生活满意度.