Changes in the SF-12 among Depressed Elders Six Months after Discharge from an Inpatient Geropsychiatric Unit

Using the SF-12 to measure physical and mental functioning, the authors examine the intra-individual changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) 6 months post-discharge for depressed older adults. In addition, they examine three sets of predictors that might influence these changes. The sample of depressed older adults was recruited from an inpatient geropsychiatry unit. Although their physical and mental health scores on the SF-12 were lower than comparable norms, the sample showed an average increase in their mental functioning but a decrease in the physical functioning over the 6 months. Negative life-events were significant predictors of people who reported no change in their mental health functioning and decreases in their physical health functioning. Interestingly, those who experienced positive life events were more likely to report declines and younger participants were more likely to report no change in their physical functioning. The findings indicate that the effects of depression on HRQOL can have enduring effects on a sample of previously hospitalized older adults. The significance of life event changes might signify the importance of taking into account non-traditional areas of medical interventions. Further, the findings indicate the usefulness of the SF-12 quantifying HRQOL outcomes.     

Making clinical decisions for dental care: concepts to consider

Clinical decisions are often made with incomplete information, yet patient care decisions are made every day. Patients vary clinically, uncertainty exists in diagnostic and prognostic information, and many preventive and treatment alternatives have not been formally assessed for their effectiveness. Because scientific information will never answer all clinical questions, clinical decisions are partially based on probabilistic information.
This paper describes how to apply clinical decision making to diagnosing and managing dental caries and periodontal diseases. By using explicit information to quantify probabilities and outcomes, clinical decision making analyzes decisions made under uncertain conditions and the uncertain impact of clinical information.
Clinical decision making incorporates concepts for preventing, diagnosing and treating dental caries and periodontal diseases: risk assessment, evidence-based dentistry, and multiple oral health outcomes. This information can serve as a tool for clinicians to augment clinical judgment and expertise.     

Outcomes of low-vision services using optometric and multidisciplinary approaches: a non-randomized comparison

Consecutive patients (n = 215) who were referred to optometric (55%) or multidisciplinary (45%) low-vision services and above 50 years of age were recruited from four hospitals in the Netherlands. They completed two vision-related quality of life questionnaires, the Vision Quality of Life Core Measure (VCM1) and the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL), before their first visit with low-vision services and 1 year later. At follow-up, patients referred to multidisciplinary low-vision services had lower scores on the mobility subscale of the LVQOL than patients referred to optometric low-vision services [5.3 points; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-10.5]. Paired sample t-tests for the two groups of patients taken together show improvement for the VCM1 (3.1 points; 95% CI: 0.6-5.6) and deterioration for the basic aspects of vision (3.5 points; 95% CI: 1.1-5.9) and the mobility (6.6 points; 95% CI: 3.7-9.5) subscales of the LVQOL. In conclusion, people referred to optometric services showed less deterioration in mobility than those referred to multidisciplinary services. No differences were observed for any of the other subscales of the LVQOL and the VCM1. Future research in this field should include randomized controlled designs comparing low-vision services with no treatment or placebo.     

Cancer support groups – are they effective?

Cancer causes significatlt emotional distress to a considerable majority of patients. Many of these patients typically receive little formal psychological intervention. Support groups, however, have provided one forum from which patients can attempt to gain help and can use to overcome some psychological trauma that accompanies the cancer hagnosis, subsequent treatment and relapse. This article reviews past studies of professionally run cancer support groups as opposed to psychological intervention groups. These studies are considered in light of the proposed benefits and the methodological limitations frequently inherent in such studies.     

Health-related quality of life assessed before and during chemotherapy predicts for survival in multiple myeloma

Measurement of health-related quality of life was integrated into a randomized trial (NMSG 4/90) comparing melphalan/prednisone to melphalan/prednisone + interferon α-2b in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. One of the aims of the study was to assess the prognostic significance of quality-of-life scores, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Univariate analysis showed a highly significant association with survival from the start of therapy for physical functioning as well as role and cognitive functioning, global quality of life, fatigue and pain. In multivariate analysis, physical functioning and W.H.O. performance status were independent prognostic factors ( P values=0.001 for both) when analysed in a Cox regression model with the somatic variables β-2 microglobulin, skeletal disease and age. The best prediction for survival from the start of therapy was obtained by combining the β-2 microglobulin and physical functioning scores in a variable consisting of three risk factor levels with an estimated median survival of 17, 29 and 49 months, respectively. At a 12 months landmark analysis, the relative risk for patients with physical functioning score 0–20 v 80–100 was 5.63 (99% CI 2.76–11.49), whereas the relative risk for patients without an objective response to chemotherapy compared to those with at least a minor response was 2.32 (99% CI 1.44–3.74). Quality-of-life assessment may be an independent and valuable addition to the known prognostic factors in multiple myeloma.     

重庆市城市居民1991～2000年死亡损失生命年分析

目的：研究重庆市城市居民20世纪90年代疾病所致早死的生命损失。方法：用死亡损失生命年YLLs为测量单位，计算不同性别、不同社区的死因别标化YLLs率，及分析1991～2000年死因别标化YLLs率的变化趋势。结果：非传染性疾病标化YLLs率为42.58‰，占全死因的82.76%，其中，恶性肿瘤标化YLLs率为12.80‰，占30.06%，脑血管疾病标化YLLs率 6.62‰，占15.55%，呼吸系统疾病标化YLLs率5.77‰，占13.55%，心脏病标化YLLs率4.38‰，占10.29%；意外死亡标化YLLs率为7.59‰，占全死因的14.75%；传染病、妇科及围产期疾病标化YLLs率为1.28‰，仅占2.49%。在社区之间，死因别标化YLLs率存在明显差异。结核病和精神病标化YLLs率曾出现上升趋势。结论：非传染性疾病已成为该城市居民的主要疾病负担，结核病防治不能放松，精神卫生工作急待开展。     

老年慢性病患者常见症状与生存质量的相关性研究

目的 探讨老年慢性病患者常见症状间的相互关系及其对生存质量的影响,以寻找提高其生存质量的护理对策.方法 采用焦虑自评量表、老年人抑郁量表、SF-36量表对230例老年慢性病患者进行常见症状及生存质量调查,并分析各种症状间的关系以及症状与生存质量的相关性.结果 老年慢性病患者生存质量八大项目得分偏低.常见躯体症状包括躯体疼痛、头晕、疲乏、睡眠障碍发生率依次为25.73%、33.80%、25.00%、22.05%.常见心理症状焦虑和抑郁得分为38.35±7.26、8.71±5.21.且各种常见症状之间呈正相关(r=0.80～0.612,P<0.05),各种常见症状与生存质量呈负相关(r=-0.175～-0.623,P<0.05).结论 在老年慢性病患者居家护理过程中,须及时采取积极有效护理措施控制或减轻病人症状,且躯体症状护理与心理护理应并重,措施实施与原因排查应同步,主要症状与次要症状要兼顾,以提高其生存质量.