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Health Related Quality (health + relate_quality)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	92%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Neurology	7%

Selected Abstracts

Abstracts of the 8th Meeting of the Italian Peripheral Nerve Study Group: 46

JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2003
L Padua
Traditional outcome assessment in neurological diseases has always been based on physician-derived and instrumental findings. Over the last two decades, clinical and public health researchers emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of concepts such as Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) to study the impact of chronic illnesses and their treatments on the patient's life. The most frequent inherited neuropathy is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). CMT Patients develop progressive weakness and sensory disturbances, becoming sometimes severely disabled even at very young age. In CMT clinic, neurophysiologic, pathologic and genetic evaluation, are considered fundamental to assess nerve involvement and diagnose, but how these findings are related to HRQoL and disability is not assessed. We propose a prospective follow-up (24,30 months) of CMT patients with multiple measurements of CMT. Besides conventional clinic, pathologic, neurophysiologic and genetic measurements we adopt validated patient-oriented measurements to assess HRQoL and disability. Aims of the study are: 1) to assess HRQoL and disability of CMT patients in a wide and well-represented sample and to evaluate the relationships between conventional parameters and the patient's perception of his own HRQoL and disability; 2) to evaluate natural history of HRQoL and disability in CMT, and to evaluate the predictive value of phenotype, genetic picture, neurophysiological and pathological pattern 3) to develop a national network and a database on CMT disease (this aim includes the standardization, based on a consensus validation process, of the most used terms and measurements in CMT and the development of a database software). In a preliminary reunion, the authors developed a dedicated database for patients affected by CMT. Details about this database will be presented. [source]

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and health related quality of life in female veterans

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2010
D. P. GRAHAM
Summary Background, The status and determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in female veterans with and without irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are unknown. Aim, To compare HRQOL in female veterans with and without IBS symptoms and examine the contribution of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety to HRQOL. Methods, A cross-sectional study of 339 female veterans. Self-report questionnaires were used to evaluate IBS symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and HRQOL. Results, Symptoms consistent with IBS were present in 33.5% of participants. Female veterans with IBS symptoms had significant reductions in physical component score and 5 of 8 Health Related Quality of Life subscales and on 7 of 8 Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality Of Life subscales than female veterans without IBS symptoms. Compared with the US general female population, female veterans had significantly lower Health Related Quality of Life physical component score and mental component scores (MCS) irrespective of IBS symptom status. Differences in the MCS score were most explained by depression, while those in the physical component score were most explained by anxiety. Conclusions, Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in female veterans are associated with considerable reduction in HRQOL. However, female veterans, regardless of IBS symptom status, have lower HRQOL compared with the general US female population. Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 261,273 [source]

Predicting health-related quality of life of parents of children with inherited metabolic diseases

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 7 2009
Janneke Hatzmann
Abstract Aim:, The aim of this study was to examine medical, socio-demographic and psychosocial determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of parents of children with metabolic diseases. Methods:, A survey among parents of children with metabolic diseases (children aged 1,19 years, diagnosed >1 year before the start of the study, living at home). Parents were approached through the Emma Children's Hospital, and through a national parent and patient association. HRQoL was assessed using the TNO-AZL Questionnaire for Adult's Health Related Quality of Life (TAAQOL), describing 12 domains of HRQoL. Predictor variables were taken from a self-report questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to predict which parents were at risk for HRQoL impairment. Results:, Mainly psychosocial determinants were predictive for parental HRQoL. Emotional support was protective for parental HRQOL while loss of friendship was a risk factor for HRQoL impairment. Medical and socio-demographic variables did not consistently predict parental HRQoL. Conclusion:, Psychosocial determinants appeared more important in predicting parental HRQoL than medical and socio-demographic variables. Interventions should be focused on supporting parents combining the care for their children with a social life. Further research on this subject is necessary. In the meantime, involved medical specialists should pay structural attention to parental functioning. [source]

Health related quality of life, environment, and regulation,

ENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 5 2004
Peter A. Lachenbruch
Abstract This article discusses prevalent and incident environmental events and how they might affect clinical trials. Inclusion of stratification by site and by event time is suggested as a possible method to remove some of the effects in the analysis. Published in 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Health related quality of life in survivors of pneumococcal meningitis

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2009
Rosa Legood
Abstract Aim: To estimate the overall long-term health related quality of life implications of an episode of pneumococcal meningitis in childhood. Method: Cases were identified through two regional UK surveillance studies and traced via their general practitioners (GPs) or local hospital paediatrician. Siblings were used as controls where available. Health related quality of life was assessed using the health utilities index (HUI). Mean utility scores were compared between cases and controls and univariate linear regression was used to identify factors that influenced the overall utility scores. Results: HUI data were available for 71 cases and 66 controls. The mean overall utility score for cases 0.774 (95% CI 0.711, 0.837) was significantly lower than for controls 0.866 (95% CI 0.824,0.907) (p-value = 0.0185). Hearing was the most significantly affected health attribute (p-value < 0.006). In cases, males had lower quality of life scores than females (p-value = 0.018), however this was not seen in controls. Conclusion: An episode of pneumococcal meningitis results in a long-term decrement in overall health related quality of life and is significantly related to hearing loss. [source]

Health related quality of life in Crohn's proctocolitis does not differ from a general population when in remission

COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 1 2003
P. Andersson
Abstract Objective All treatment in Crohn's disease, although palliative, aims at restoring full health. The objective of this study was to compare health-related quality of life and psychosocial conditions in patients with Crohn's proctocolitis with a general population. Patients and methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients with Crohn's proctocolitis (median age 44 years, 44.1% men) were compared with 266 controls (median age 45 years, 50.7% men). A questionnaire consisting of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) evaluating general health as well as questions regarding psychosocial conditions was used. Disease activity was evaluated by Best's modification of the classical Crohn's Disease Activity Index. Results Patients in remission had a health related quality of life similar to controls according to the SF-36 apart from general health where scores were lower (P < 0.01). Patients with active disease scored lower in all aspects of the SF-36 (P < 0.001 or P <,0.0001) as well as the PGWB (P < 0.0001). In a model for multiple regression including age, gender, concomitant small bowel disease, permanent stoma, previous colonic surgery, disease activity, duration, and aggressiveness, disease activity was the only variable negatively predicting all 8 domains of the SF-36 in the patient group (P < 0.001). The mean annual sick-leave for patients and controls were 33.9 and 9.5 days (P < 0.0001), respectively. Sixty-eight percent of the patients and 78.4% of the controls (P = 0.04) were married or cohabited, 67.7% and 78.0% (P = 0.04), respectively, had children. Conclusion The health related quality of life for patients with Crohn's proctocolitis in remission does not differ from the general population. The disease has, however, a negative impact on parenthood, family life and professional performance. [source]

Environmental burden of disease: HRQoL and statistical perspectives

ENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 5 2004
Pranab Kumar Sen
Abstract Environmental toxicity and pollution mingled with substandard sanitation and public health practice can lead to serious health problems. Some of these toxics can be identified and subjected to preventive measures but together with some other major factors they form the environmental burden of disease, more seriously in developing countries. As a result, in health related quality of life risk assessments, especially relating to cancer of various types, as well as chronic and intestinal diseases, we need to incorporate toxicology as well as environmental epidemiology. Statistical perspectives in this challenging task are appraised with special attention to the arsenite contamination of the groundwater problem. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The impact of stomatological disease on oral health-related quality of life

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2003
Carrie Diane Llewellyn
The clinical diagnosis of stomatological disease may indicate its cause and prognosis; however, it says little about the resulting level of impairment from the patient's perspective. The primary objective of this study was to test whether patients attending an outpatient oral medicine clinic would have worse oral health related quality of life (OHR-QoL) compared with the general population. In addition, we aimed to assess whether anxiety or depression could be predicted by OHR-QoL and to explore the relationship between clinical diagnoses, OHR-QoL and anxiety/depression. Data were collected from patients (n = 97) through face-to-face interviews using the Oral Health Impact Profile Short form (OHIP-14) to measure OHR-QoL, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychiatric morbidity, and a visual analogue scale for self-rated general health. Age- and sex-matched controls (n = 388) were provided from a normative data set collected in a UK national survey in 1998. Participants had significantly lower OHR-QoL scores than the general population on all domains and overall OHR-QoL scores. Of the variance in anxiety, 55% was predicted by general health ratings and OHR-QoL domains of ,psychological discomfort' and ,psychological disability'. Of the variance in depression, 54% was predicted by general health ratings and OHR-QoL domains of ,functional limitation' and ,social disability'. Patient centred, routine assessment of OHR-QoL provides an additional dimension that may help to improve awareness of the impact of disease on the individual's life and enhance the clinical decision-making process. [source]

Impact of new prostheses on the oral health related quality of life of edentulous patients

GERODONTOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
J. L. Veyrune
Objective:, A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the placement of complete dentures by using the Global Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Background:, Oral health quality of life indicators can be used to evaluate the effects of dental treatments. Material and methods:, The 26 participants were treated in a French University Clinic during 2002. They were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received new prostheses, but evaluation of the quality of life was made at different periods [baseline, denture placement (group 1), 6 and 12 weeks (group 2) after placement]. A questionnaire was used to collect information on patient's satisfaction with the previous and new prostheses. Nonparametric tests were used to test the relationships between patients' satisfaction or baseline data and GOHAI variations with time as well as to compare mean values of GOHAI within each group. Results:, At baseline, the impact of oral health problems was apparent; the mean GOHAI-Add score was 45.8 (10.2). Six weeks after placement of the new denture, there was no difference in GOHAI scores compared with the initial assessment. An improvement in GOHAI score was observed 12 weeks after the participants received their new dentures (p < 0.05). Change in GOHAI-Add scores was negatively correlated with the initial GOHAI-Add score. Patients who preferred the new prosthesis enjoyed a positive change in GOHAI scores (p < 0.001). There was a relationship between participants' satisfaction with the new dentures and change in GOHAI scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion:, The GOHAI can be used to evaluate needs for and effect of the making of new complete dentures. [source]

Modelling lifetime QALYs and health care costs from different drinking patterns over time: a Markov model

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010
Carolina Barbosa
Abstract The negative health consequences of alcohol use and its treatment account for significant health care expenditure worldwide. Long-term modelling techniques are developed in this paper to establish a link between drinking patterns, health consequences and alcohol treatment effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The overall change in health related quality and quantity of life which results from changes in health-related behaviour is estimated. Specifically, a probabilistic lifetime Markov model is presented where alcohol consumption in grams of alcohol per day and drinking history are used for the categorization of patients into four Markov states. Utility weights are assigned to each drinking state using EQ-5D scores. Mortality and morbidity estimates are state, gender and age specific, and are alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related. The methodology is tested in a case study. This represents a major development in the techniques traditionally used in alcohol economic models, in which short-term costs and outcomes are assessed, omitting potential longer term cost savings and improvements in health related quality of life. Assumptions and implications of the approach are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Quality of life and socioeconomic factors in Polish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
L Kulczycka
Abstract Objective, To determinate health related quality of life (HRQoL) in SLE patients and correlate it with socioeconomic factors. Methods, The study was conducted on 83 SLE patients who fulfilled at least 4 out of 11 ACR criteria. HRQoL was measured by SF-36. Socioeconomic data were collected from the patients at the time of filling-up SF-36 questionnaire. Results, SLE patients presented decreased HRQoL. Duration of the disease, as well as age of the patients, had an influence on it. Patients who lived in the villages obtained lower results than those from the cities. More educated patients assessed their HRQoL as higher. Surprisingly, patients who described their social conditions as worse presented better quality of life. There was a statistically significant correlations between HRQoL and socioeconomic factors. [source]

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and health related quality of life in female veterans

Health-related quality of life among persons with irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2002
H. B. El-Serag
Summary Aim : To perform a systematic review of the literature with three objectives: (1) to compare the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with that of healthy controls; (2) to compare the HRQoL of irritable bowel syndrome patients to those with other diseases; and (3) to examine therapy-associated changes in HRQoL of irritable bowel syndrome patients. Methods : Searches of all English and non-English articles from 1980 to 2001 were performed in Medline and Embase, and two investigators performed independent data abstraction. Results : Seventeen articles met our selection criteria. 13 studies addressed objective no. 1; 11 showed a significant reduction in HRQoL among irritable bowel syndrome patients. Of these, only one study was considered of high quality. Four studies addressed objective no. 2, none of which was considered to be high quality in addressing this objective. Four trials (three of high quality) addressed objective no. 3. One showed that symptomatic improvement with Leupron compared to placebo was accompanied an improvement only in the comparative health domain of the HRQoL. The second study reported significant positive changes in HRQoL after 12 weeks of cognitive behavioural therapy. The third report of two placebo-controlled studies indicated significant improvement with alosetron on most domains of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire. Conclusions : (i) There is reasonable evidence for a decrease in HRQoL in patients with moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome; however, the data are conflicting regarding the impact of irritable bowel syndrome on HRQoL in population-based studies of nonconsulters. (ii) HRQoL in irritable bowel syndrome patients is impaired to a degree comparable to other chronic disorders such as GERD and depression. (iii) A therapeutic response in irritable bowel syndrome-related pain has a corresponding improvement in HRQoL. (iv) Limitations of the literature include focusing on moderate-severe irritable bowel syndrome in referral centres, and lack of appropriate controls [source]

Does asthma control correlate with quality of life related to upper and lower airways?

ALLERGY, Issue 6 2009
A real life study
Background:, The goal of asthma therapy is to achieve an optimal level of disease control, but the relationship between asthma control, impact of comorbid rhinitis and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in real life remains unexplored. Objective:, The aims of this real life study were to evaluate asthma control, the impact of asthma (with and without rhinitis) on HRQoL, the relationship between asthma control and HRQoL, and the role of rhinitis on asthma control and HRQoL. Methods:, 122 asthma patients completed the Asthma Control Test, Rhinitis Symptoms score (T5SS) and RHINASTHMA. Results:, Asthma control was unsatisfactory (44.27% of uncontrolled patients), as well as HRQoL. Controlled patients controlled showed significantly lower scores in all the RHINASTHMA domains compared to uncontrolled. Irrespective of their level of control, patients with rhinitis symptoms showed worse HRQoL in Upper Airways (UA) (P < 0.0001), Lower Airways (LA) (P < 0.001), and Global Summary (GS) (P < 0.0001). In patients with symptomatic rhinitis, RHINASTHMA were lower in controlled asthma patients (UA P = 0.002; LA P < 0.0001; RAI P < 0.01; GS P < 0.0001). Asthma control was associated with lower T5SS score (P = 0.034). Conclusion:, Asthma control in real life is unsatisfactory. Rhinitis and asthma influence each other in terms of control and HRQoL. The control of rhinitis in asthma patients can lead to an optimization of HRQoL related to the upper airways, while this phenomenon is not so evident in asthma. These results suggest to strengthen the ARIA recommendation that asthma patients must be evaluated for rhinitis and vice versa. [source]

Quality-assessment of disease-specific quality of life questionnaires for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis: a systematic review

ALLERGY, Issue 12 2007
C. M. Van Oene
The aim of this systematic review was to give a quality-assessed review of the existing disease-specific health related quality of life (QOL) questionnaires concerning rhinitis and rhinosinusitis for adults. The quality is assessed by defining the characteristics of a QOL questionnaire with assessment criteria. The results of the construction, description, feasibility, and the psychometric performance of the instruments are provided. We finally provide a clinician's guide to choose a questionnaire based on the measurement goals, the discriminant validity, responsiveness and the points obtained in the quality assessment. Of the top scoring instruments regarding the overall quality assessment, only four health related QOL questionnaires for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis met our criteria for the discriminant validity and responsiveness. [source]

Self-rated health status in spinocerebellar ataxia,Results from a European multicenter study,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 5 2010
Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch MD
Abstract Patient-based measures of subjective health status are increasingly used as outcome measures in interventional trials. We aimed to determine the variability and predictors of subjective health ratings in a possible target group for future interventions: the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). A consecutive sample of 526 patients with otherwise unexplained progressive ataxia and genetic diagnoses of SCA1 (117), SCA2 (163), SCA3 (139), and SCA6 (107) were enrolled at 18 European referral centers. Subjective health status was assessed with a generic measure of health related quality of life, the EQ-5D (Euroqol) questionnaire. In addition, we performed a neurological examination and a screening questionnaire for affective disorders (patient health questionnaire). Patient-reported health status was compromised in patients of all genotypes (EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) mean 61.45 ± 20.8). Specifically, problems were reported in the dimensions of mobility (86.9% of patients), usual activities (68%), pain/discomfort (49.4%), depression/anxiety (46.4%), and self care (38.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed three independent predictors of subjective health status: ataxia severity, extent of noncerebellar involvement, and the presence of depressive syndrome. This model explained 30.5% of EQ-VAS variance in the whole sample and might be extrapolated to other SCA genotypes. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society [source]

Impact of urodynamic based incontinence diagnosis on quality of life in women,,

NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2009
Alexandra L. Haessler
Abstract Aims To characterize the effect of urodynamic diagnosis on degree of incontinence related bother and health related quality of life in a large, multi-ethnic population of women. Methods Effects of multichannel urodynamic diagnosis, urethral competency, and other patient characteristics on abbreviated Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ7) composite scores were analyzed retrospectively. Results Six hundred eleven patients were included. Mean UDI6 and IIQ7 scores were significantly higher among patients with mixed incontinence, detrusor overactivity, urinary stress incontinence with overactive bladder, and negative studies compared to those with stress incontinence without OAB. The relative composite UDI6 and IIQ7 mean scores did not significantly differ between the mixed incontinence, detrusor overactivity, stress incontinence with OAB and negative study groups. UDI6 and IIQ7 scores were significantly higher among stress incontinent patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency, but similar among mixed incontinent patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Conclusion Urodynamic diagnoses of detrusor overactivity, mixed incontinence, and stress incontinence with overactive bladder are associated with significantly worse incontinence related bother and health related quality of life when compared to those with stress incontinence without OAB. These conditions appear to have similar degree of impact on incontinence related bother and quality of life. Patients presenting with symptoms of incontinence can suffer a similar compromise in quality of life despite a negative MCUD study. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:183,187, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Re: Oral health related quality of life is affected by disease activity in Behçets disease , Vol.

ORAL DISEASES, Issue 3 2006
12 No. 2 pp 14
[source]

Quality of life and use of red cell transfusion in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
A systematic review
The main treatment for many patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) remains red cell transfusion to attenuate the symptoms of chronic anemia. Fatigue can reduce a patient's health related quality of life (HRQoL), but there is little understanding of the optimal use of transfusions to improve this. A systematic review was performed to identify and appraise publications reporting the use of HRQoL instruments in patients with MDS. A total of 17 separate studies were identified that used 14 HRQoL instruments, but only one MDS disease specific HRQoL instrument (QOL-E) was reported. Two well established HRQoL instruments were most often used in MDS research (variants of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30)). Several common problems were identified in the published literature including a lack of power calculations to detect clinically relevant changes, small sample sizes and significant attrition rates for completion of HRQoL assessments, all of which limit the strength of any conclusions. There is no consensus on the optimal transfusion regimen to improve HRQoL in transfusion-dependent MDS. Future research into HRQoL within MDS is a pressing requirement. Studies should focus on the domains that are of most clinical importance to the patient as well as traditional quantitative changes of hemoglobin concentration. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Adventure therapy for adolescents with cancer

PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 3 2004
Bonnie Stevens RN
Abstract The objective of this study was to describe adolescents' with cancer experience in an adventure therapy program from a health related quality of life (HRQL) perspective. A qualitative descriptive research method was used. Eleven adolescents and five health professionals participated in a guided group adventure therapy expedition in a remote area of Canada. The expedition was videotaped and data were collected using an unstructured interview format with both adolescents and health professionals. Emerging themes were identified using a qualitative descriptive exploratory analysis. Four major themes and related sub-themes were generated. The major themes were: developing connections, togetherness, rebuilding self-esteem, and creating memories. Adventure therapy was viewed by the adolescents and health care professionals as a positive experience with multiple benefits. This preliminary research will contribute to an understanding of adolescents' experiences with cancer and provide a basis for future studies evaluating the impact of adventure therapy on HRQL. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Upper -extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and physical health related quality of life among women employed in poultry processing and other low -wage jobs in Northeastern North Carolina,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009
C.S. McPhee MSPH
Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between upper -extremity musculoskeletal symptoms (MS ) and diminished physical health related quality of life (PHRQoL ) in a population of women, mostly African -American working in poultry processing and other low -wage jobs in rural northeastern North Carolina. Methods A cross -sectional analysis was performed on baseline data of self -reported PHRQoL and musculoskeletal symptoms for 291 poultry processing workers and 299 community comparison women. Logarithmic binomial regression was performed to assess the relationship between moderate to severe MS on low PHRQoL. Results Prevalence of poor PHRQoL was 35.5 % among poultry processing workers, and 14.7 % among community comparison group. Moderate to severe upper -extremity musculoskeletal symptoms were present in 34.4 % of the poultry workers and 10.7 % of the comparison group. After adjusting for age and other chronic conditions, moderate to severe musculoskeletal symptoms were associated with low PHRQoL in both groups. Although the observed effect was stronger among the comparison group (adjusted prevalence ratios (95 % confidence interval ): poultry workers , = ,1.89 (1.36, 2.64 ), community comparison , = ,4.26 (2.51, 7.24 ), the population attributable risk percent was similar (poultry workers , = ,28.9, community comparison , = ,31.3 % ) ) due to the higher prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms in the poultry workers. Conclusions Significant upper-extremity musculoskeletal symptoms were associated with poor PHRQoL among both groups of women employed in low -wage jobs. Nationwide, poultry work is over -represented by minorities and immigrants. Though challenging, we need to search for ways to improve the conditions of these women as a matter of social justice. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:331,340, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]