Structure of health-related quality of life among people with and without functional limitations

Purpose  

The objective of this study was to assess the factor structure of nine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) survey items among people with and without disabilities or functional limitations (FL) and determine whether factor loadings were similar for the two groups.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life among Omanis hospitalized patients with cancer: a cross-sectional study

Quality of Life Research - This study aimed to examine the difference in HRQoL by participants’ characteristics and to investigate the determinants of health-related quality of life HRQoL...     

Apathy and health-related quality of life in nursing home residents

Quality of Life Research - To explore the association between apathy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from resident and proxy perspectives and whether cognition and depression moderate...     

Determinants of health-related quality of life in Nigerian stroke survivors

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in developing countries. It is crucial to identify factors influencing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in stroke survivors in this setting so that such factors can be efficiently manipulated in order to maximize HRQOL improvement. This is the first study of these determinants in Nigerian stroke patients. One hundred consecutive consenting stroke survivors were studied in Ibadan. The stroke levity scale (SLS) was used to assess stroke severity. HRQOL was assessed using the psychometrically robust HRQOL in stroke patients (HRQOLISP) questionnaire. HRQOL determinants were sought among variables such as age, gender, socio-economic class (SEC), post-stroke duration, side, type and number of strokes, SLS, modified Rankin scale (mRS), social support, and Likert-graded responses to laughter and negative feelings frequencies. Gender, aphasia, handedness, stroke side, type and frequency as well as SEC had no significant impact on HRQOL. The determinants of HRQOL were SLS, mRS, social support, laughter and negative feelings frequencies. Aside from stroke levity and disability, psychosocial factors such as emotional responses and social support determine HRQOL in stroke survivors. Both neuroscience and clinical management of stroke might benefit from a corresponding broader integrative conceptual framework for life after stroke.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life in elderly in Tehran,Iran

Background  

As Iran started to experience population ageing, it is important to consider and address the elderly people's needs and concerns, which might have direct impacts on their well-being and quality of life. There have been only a few researches into different aspects of life of the elderly population in Iran including their health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of elderly Iranians and to identify its some determinant factors.     

Low health-related quality of life among abused women

In a cross-sectional study, we sent a self-administered questionnaire to all the women’s shelters in Norway to describe health-related quality of life among women who had experienced violence from an intimate partner. Every woman who could understand Norwegian and was staying at a women’s shelter in Norway for more than 1 week from October 2002 to May 2003 was asked to participate. We described violence by intimate partners by using the Severity of Violence against Women Scale and the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Index. We used the SF-36 Health Survey to measure health-related quality of life. These women experienced a multitude of threats and actual physical and psychological violence during their partnership. Their health-related quality of life was low and significantly (p<0.001) below the norm for the female population of Norway in all dimensions. The SF-36 mental health dimension was 2.5 standard deviations below the norm. Women at women’s shelters in Norway who had experienced domestic violence had very low and clinically significantly reduced health-related quality of life scores. Health care workers must give priority to developing intervention plans for victims of violence from intimate partners.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Ternporal lobectomy appears to be an effective treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. However, the influences of pre-operative health status and post-operative reductions in seizure activity on post-surgical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are not well understood. We used the Epilepsy Surgery Inventory 55 (ESI-55) to evaluate changes between pre- and post-operative HRQOL in 47 temporal lobectomy patients. Patients exhibited significantly improved scores in five HRQOL domains: health perceptions; energy fatigue; social function; cognitive function and role limitations due to physical problems. Although significant improvements in HRQOL were observed, this was not the case for all patients. Specifically, patients with low or medium pre-operative HRQOL scores were found to have the greatest degree of improvement post-operatively. Patients with high pre-operative scores did not exhibit these same improvements, although they continued to report high scores. The results indicate that the ESI-55 is a satisfactory instrument to measure change in HRQOL but also emphasizes that the magnitude of change in post-operative HRQOL scores tends to vary according to baseline scores. The outcome of temporal lobectomy is not entirely based upon the procedure's ability to reduce the frequency of seizures, but is also influenced by level of HRQOL prior to surgery.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review

Background and purpose

Many persons with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm recover to functional independence but nevertheless experience reduced quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence on determinants of reduced QoL in this diagnostic group.

Methods

Databases PubMed, PsychINFO, and CINAHL were used to identify empirical studies reporting on quantitative relationships between possible determinants and QoL in persons with aneurysmal SAH and published in English. Determinants were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Results

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, in which 13 different HRQoL questionnaires were used. Determinants related to Body Structure & Function (clinical condition at admission, fatigue, and disturbed mood), Activity limitations (physical disability and cognitive complaints), and Personal factors (female gender, higher age, neuroticism, and passive coping) are consistently related to worse HRQoL after aneurysmal SAH. Treatment characteristics were not consistently related to HRQoL.

Conclusion

This study identified a broad range of determinants of HRQoL after aneurysmal SAH. The findings provide clues to tailor multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs. Further research is needed on participation, psychological characteristics, and environmental factors as determinants of HRQoL after SAH.     

Factors associated with health-related quality of life among Belgrade University students

Purpose  

The aims of the study were to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among students of University of Belgrade (Serbia) and to identify factors that might have associated with their HRQoL including relationship with depression.     

Preference-based health-related quality of life among victims of bullying

Purpose

No previous study has estimated the association between bullying and preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (“utility”), knowledge of which may be used for cost-effectiveness studies of interventions designed to prevent bullying. Therefore, the aim of the study was to estimate preference-based HRQoL among victims of bullying compared to non-victims.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey data collection among Swedish adolescents aged 15–17 years in the first year of upper secondary school was conducted in the city of Gothenburg in Sweden (N = 758). Preference-based HRQoL was estimated with the SF-6D. Regression analyses were conducted to adjust for some individual-level background variable.

Results

Mean preference-based health-related quality of life scores were 0.77 and 0.71 for non-victims and victims of bullying, respectively. The difference of 0.06 points was statistically significant (p < 0.05) and robust to inclusion of gender, age, and parental immigrant status.

Conclusions

The preference-based HRQoL estimates in this study may be used as an upper bound in economic evaluations of bullying prevention interventions, facilitating a comparison between costs and quality-adjusted life-years.

     

Dietary patterns and health-related quality of life among Iranian adolescents

Quality of Life Research - Examining the associations of a-posteriori-defined dietary patterns and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Iranian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was...     

Vision-specific health-related quality of life: Content areas for nursing home residents

Nursing home residents have a high prevalence of remediable visual impairment and blindness. Future research on the effectiveness of providing eye care to nursing home residents will need to include a vision-targeted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument appropriate for this population. The purpose of this study was to identify the core content areas for such an instrument. In-depth interviews on vision-related issues were conducted with 40 residents. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and coded using a standardized protocol. Binocular distance and near visual acuity were assessed using the resident's walking around correction to examine whether one vision-specific HRQOL measure could address the needs of residents with good and poor vision. Overall 1070 vision-related comments were identified. Residents mentioned 315 problem comments that were grouped into 13 categories, including ocular symptoms (18% of comments), reading (15%), general vision (13%), psychological distress (12%), and activities of daily living (ADLs) (7%). Compared to published data on vision-specific content areas most relevant to community based persons, nursing home residents focused more on ocular symptoms and basic ADLs, with no mention of issues related to driving, home care, and finances. The majority of categories mentioned did not differ on the proportion of comments made by those with good and poor visual acuity, suggesting that one vision-specific HRQOL instrument would be appropriate for residents with varying levels of visual acuity. Future work will focus on developing a vision-specific HRQOL instrument for nursing home residents.     

Physical activity and health-related quality of life: US adults with and without limitations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the dose–response relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adults with and without limitations.

Methods

We dichotomized HRQOL as ≥14 unhealthy (physical or mental) days (past 30 days), or <14 unhealthy days. By using a moderate-intensity minute equivalent, PA categories were as follows: inactive, 10–60, 61–149, 150–300, and >300 min/week. Persons with limitations reported having problems that limited their activities or required use of special equipment. Age-adjusted prevalence estimates and logistic regression analyses were performed with 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (n = 357,665), controlling for demographics, BMI, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.

Results

For adults without limitations, the odds of ≥14 unhealthy days were lower among adults obtaining any PA (10–60 min/week, AOR = 0.79, 95 % CI 0.70, 0.88), compared with those inactive. A quadratic trend (P < 0.001) indicated enhanced HRQOL with each PA level, but improvements were less marked between lower and upper sufficient PA categories (150-300 and >300 min/week). Because of a significant age interaction, persons with limitations were stratified by age (18–34, 35–64, and 65+ years). Findings for persons aged 35 years or older with limitations were similar to those without limitations. Lower odds of poor HRQOL for persons aged 18–34 years with limitations were associated with recommended levels of PA (150–300 min/week; AOR = 0.61, 95 % CI 0.43, 0.88 and >300 min/week; AOR = 0.58, 95 % CI 0.43, 0.80).

Conclusions

PA is positively associated with HRQOL among persons with and without limitations.     

Depression treatment and health-related quality of life among adults with diabetes and depression

Background

Previous findings regarding depression treatment and its consequences on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adults with diabetes were inconsistent and targeted certain groups of population. Therefore, there is a critical need to conduct a population-based study that focuses on a general population with diabetes and depression.

Objective

The primary aim of this study was to examine the physical and mental HRQoL associated with depression treatment during the follow-up year.

Methods

We adopted a longitudinal design using multiple panels (2005–2011) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to create a baseline year and follow-up year. We included adults with diabetes and depression. We categorized the baseline depression treatment into: (1) antidepressant use only; (2) psychotherapy with or without antidepressants; and (3) no treatment. HRQOL was measured using SF-12 version 2 physical component summary (PCS) and SF-12 mental component summary (MCS) scores during both baseline year and follow-up year. Ordinary least squares (OLS) were used to estimate the association between depression treatment and the HRQoL measures. The OLS regression controlled for predisposing, enabling, need, external environment factors, personal health practices, and baseline HRQoL measures.

Results

After controlling for all the independent variables and the baseline PCS, individuals who received psychotherapy with or without antidepressants had higher PCS scores as compared to those without any treatment for depression (beta = 1.28, p < 0.001). Individuals who reported using only antidepressants had lower PCS scores (beta = ?0.54, p < 0.001) as compared to those without depression treatment. On the contrary, individuals who reported receiving psychotherapy with or without antidepressants had lower MCS scores as compared to those without depression treatment (beta = ?1.43, p < 0.001). Those using only antidepressants had higher MCS scores as compared to those without depression treatment (beta = 0.56, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The associations between depression treatment and the HRQoL varied by the type of depression treatment and the component of the HRQoL measures.

     

中文版SF-36量表用于长春市在职人员生命质量的调查

目的了解长春市在职人员生命质量状况及其影响因素。方法用简明健康调查问卷（SF-36）中文版以自填式问卷调查形式,采用方便整群抽样方法对长春市市区和乡镇2667名在职人员进行调查。结果长春市在职人员生理健康综合评分为（76.5±16.4）分,心理健康综合评分为（72.4±18.1）分。生理健康综合得分随着年龄、体质指数（BMI）的增加而逐步下降（P〈0.05）,心理健康综合得分随着年龄的增加而逐步增加（P〈0.05）;男性在生理健康和心理健康方面得分均显著高于女性（P〈0.05）;干部在生理健康方面得分高于工人（P〈0.05）;离婚、分居、丧偶人群在生理健康方面得分低于在婚人群（P〈0.05）;1年内经历过应激事件、患有疾病均影响长春市在职人员生命质量的生理健康和心理健康（P〈0.05）。结论长春市在职人员生命质量状况尚可,年龄、性别、职业、婚姻状况、疾患、饮酒、应激事件、BMI是其主要的影响因素。     

乌鲁木齐市老年结核患者健康相关生命质量评价

目的 了解乌鲁木齐市老年结核病患者的生命质量状况。方法 选取2016年4月 - 2017年4月乌鲁木齐市204名60岁以上确诊结核病人,根据年龄、性别、民族1∶2匹配对照组,采用SF - 36量表进行问卷调查并收集两组基本信息,采用统计分析系统SAS 9.4软件对数据进行多重线性回归分析影响老年结核病患者生命质量的因素。结果 SF - 36量表各维度评分显示除BP维度（z = 1.064,P = 0.288）外,其余维度及PCS、MCS、总评分上2组差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05)。单因素分析,性别、文化程度、退休前职业、婚姻状况、个人收入、独居、饮酒、吸烟、体育锻炼、糖尿病史和冠心病史对老年结核患者的生命质量有不同程度的影响。多重线性回归显示个人收入会影响BP和MH维度（F = 4.38,P = 0.038和F = 7.60,P = 0.006）,独居是GH的影响因素（与配偶居住F = 9.29,P = 0.003;与子女居住F = 5.92,P = 0.016）,吸烟会影响RE、MCS和总评分（F = 4.89,P = 0.028;F = 8.71,P = 0.004和F = 7.21,P = 0.008）,冠心病史是PF、RP的影响因素（F = 9.01,P = 0.003;F = 5.74,P = 0.018）,而体育锻炼会影响PF、PCS及总评分（F = 29.09,P＜0.001;F = 8.62,P = 0.004;F = 6.50,P = 0.012）。结论 老年肺结核患者的健康相关生命质量较低,相关因素的改善有助于提高老年肺结核患者的生命质量。     

Sense of coherence as a resource in relation to health-related quality of life among mentally intact nursing home residents – a questionnaire study

Background  

Sense of coherence (SOC) is a strong determinant of positive health and successful coping. For older people living in the community or staying in a hospital, SOC has been shown to be associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Studies focusing on this aspect among nursing home (NH) residents have been limited. This study investigated the relationship between SOC and HRQOL among older people living in NHs in Bergen, Norway.     

Health- and oral health-related quality of life among preschool children with cerebral palsy

Objectives  

To assess the health- and oral health-related quality of life of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to determine their inter-relationship between the two quality of life measures.