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Lower HRQoL (lower + hrqol)
Selected AbstractsIrritable bowel syndrome symptoms and health related quality of life in female veteransALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2010D. 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] Health-related quality of life and intellectual functioning in children in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemiaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2007Trude Reinfjell Abstract Aim: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and intellectual functioning of children in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Methods: Children and adolescents treated for ALL (n = 40; mean age 11.8 years, range 8.5,15.4) and healthy controls (n = 42; mean age 11.8, range 8.11,15.0) were assessed through a cross-sectional approach using the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQLÔ) 4.0 and the Wechsler Intelligent Scale for children-III (WISC-III). Results: Children and adolescents treated for ALL reported on average significantly lower HRQOL compared to healthy controls: the mother's proxy-report showed significantly lower HRQOL for their children, as did the father's proxy-report, measured by the PedsQLÔ 4.0 Total Scale and Psychosocial Health Scale. Intellectual functioning as measured by the WISC-III Full Scale IQ was below that of the control group, but still within the normal range. Conclusions: Significant differences found between children treated for ALL and their control group for the PedsQL Psychosocial Health Scale may indicate that the complex illness-treatment experience can make children more vulnerable with regard to psychosocial sequels, in spite of otherwise satisfactory physical and intellectual functioning. Follow-up programs that target the psychosocial health of children in remission from ALL should be implemented. [source] Does primary sclerosing cholangitis impact quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease?INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 3 2010Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan MD Abstract Background: Impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important concern in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; ulcerative colitis [UC], Crohn's disease [CD]). Between 2%,10% of patients with IBD have primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). There has been limited examination of the disease-specific HRQoL in this population compared to non-PSC IBD controls. Methods: This was a retrospective, case,control study performed at a tertiary referral center. Cases comprised 26 patients with a known diagnosis of PSC and IBD (17 UC, 9 CD). Three random controls were selected for each case after matching for IBD type, gender, age, and duration of disease. Disease-specific HRQoL was measured using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Disease activity for CD was measured using the Harvey,Bradshaw index (HB) and using the UC activity index for UC. Independent predictors of HRQoL were identified. Results: There was no significant difference in the age, gender distribution, or disease duration between PSC-IBD and controls. There was no difference in use of immunomodulators or biologics between the 2 groups. Mean SIBDQ score was comparable between PSC-IBD patients (54.5) and controls (54.1), both for UC and CD. Likewise, the disease activity scores were also similar (2.8 versus 3.1, P = 0.35). On multivariate analysis, higher disease activity score (,1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 95% CI ,1.85 to ,0.82) and shorter disease duration were predictive of lower HRQoL. Coexisting PSC did not influence IBD-related HRQoL. There was a higher proportion of permanent work disability in PSC-IBD (7.7%) compared to controls (0%). Conclusions: PSC does not seem to influence disease-specific HRQoL in our patients with IBD but is associated with a higher rate of work disability. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010) [source] Health-related quality of life in persons with long-term pain after a strokeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2004Marita Widar MSc Background., No study has, to our knowledge, previously been published on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a group suffering from long-term pain after a stroke. Aim., The aim of the present study was to describe HRQoL in persons with long-term pain after a stroke, and to compare this with different types of pain conditions, age, gender and household status. Design., This study has a design combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Methods., Forty three participants suffering from long-term pain after a stroke were included. A qualitative interview was performed and then analysed by means of latent content analysis. In addition, two self-report questionnaires, SF-36 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD Scale), were used. Results., The qualitative data revealed that physical and cognitive functioning, economic security and good relationships, support and having the ability to be together with family and friends were important factors with regard to experienced HRQoL. No significant differences were found in SF-36 and the HAD Scale with regard to the different types of pain. The older age group had decreased physical functioning in SF-36. The men had more decreased vitality than the women. Conclusion., The results show, that the participants in this study have a lower HRQoL due to their long-term pain than those in previous studies on stroke survivors. It is evident that further research is needed with longitudinal studies and larger populations to gain more knowledge and thereby provide better supportive care. Relevance to clinical practice., Awareness and understanding of the patients' perceptions and transitions with regard to their life situation and suffering from long-term pain after a stroke is important in order to support a maintained or increased HRQoL. This is also important after the acute stage and rehabilitation, including quality of life of the relatives, especially to older and dependent persons. [source] Long-term outcomes of seriously injured children: A study using the Child Health QuestionnaireJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 5-6 2005Tamzyn M Davey Objective:, To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children 1,2 years after they had sustained an injury. Methods:, Parents of all children who were identified by the Queensland Trauma Registry during their admission to either of the two paediatric specialty hospitals in Brisbane, Australia, for the treatment of an injury, were invited to participate in this study. Parents who consented to participation received a copy of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) that required them to provide information regarding their child's HRQoL following injury. The CHQ scores for the study respondents were compared with those of the Australian norms. This study was approved by the relevant ethics committees. Results:, Two hundred and forty-one completed questionnaires were returned. The majority of cases were male (65%) and there was even representation across all age groups. The majority of injuries were considered to be minor (81%) and were predominantly the result of falls and cycling accidents causing mainly fractures and intracranial injury. On the majority of subscales of the CHQ, study participants recorded scores that were statistically significantly below those of the Australian norms. None of the relevant variables collected by the Queensland Trauma Registry were found to predict scores on the CHQ in this study (for those children hospitalized for >24 h). Conclusion:, Injured children are worse off than their Australian counterparts in terms of HRQoL even up to 2 years following an injury. Further research needs to be undertaken to identify factors that predict lower HRQoL in order to reduce the burden of injury on children and their families. [source] Factors associated with health-related quality of life among low-compliant asthmatic adults in Korea,RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Ja Yun Choi Abstract This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in low-compliant Korean adults with asthma. The sample consisted of 178 patients referred by a physician to the education clinic at a University hospital in Korea. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that previous hospital admissions, recent asthma-related symptoms within the previous week, lower peak expiratory flow rate, and lower level of asthma knowledge were independently associated with lower HRQoL and accounted for 46% of the total variance. Health care providers should focus on these factors to increase perceptions of HRQoL among low-compliant patients. Interventional strategies need to be developed to emphasize the importance of compliance to the self-monitoring regimen and management protocols. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:140,147, 2009 [source] What determines the health-related quality of life among regional and rural breast cancer survivors?AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2009Tracey DiSipio Abstract Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of regional and rural breast cancer survivors at 12 months post-diagnosis and to identify correlates of HRQoL. Methods: In 2006/07, 323 (202 regional and 121 rural) Queensland women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer participated in a population-based, cross-sectional study. HRQoL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Breast plus arm morbidity (FACT-B+4) self-administered questionnaire. Results: In age-adjusted analyses, mean HRQoL scores of regional breast cancer survivors were comparable to their rural counterparts 12 months post-diagnosis (122.9, 95% CI: 119.8, 126.0 vs. 123.7, 95% CI: 119.7, 127.8; p>0.05). Irrespective of residence, younger (<50 years) women reported lower HRQoL than older (50+ years) women (113.5, 95% CI: 109.3, 117.8 vs. 128.2, 95%CI: 125.1, 131.2; p<0.05). Those women who received chemotherapy, reported two complications post-surgery, had poorer upper-body function than most, reported more stress, reduced coping, who were socially isolated, had no confidante for social-emotional support, had unmet health care needs, and low health self-efficacy reported lower HRQoL scores. Conclusions and Implications: The results underscore the importance of supporting and promoting regional and rural breast cancer programs that are designed to improve physical functioning, reduce stress and provide psychosocial support following diagnosis. Further, the information can be used by general practitioners and other allied health professionals for identifying women at risk of poorer HRQoL. [source] Health-related quality of life in Swedish children and adolescents with limb reduction deficiencyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2010K Ylimäinen Abstract Aim:, To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young persons with limb reduction deficiency (LRD). Methods:, One hundred and forty children with LRD aged 8,16 answered the DISABKIDS questionnaire for children with chronic health conditions. Of their parents, 137 answered a corresponding questionnaire concerning their child. Results:, Compared to reference data from children with other health conditions, children with LRD showed higher overall HRQoL and higher HRQoL in all subscales except social exclusion. Overall, the results were not related to gender or age, but girls with longitudinal, bilateral or lower LRD reported significantly lower HRQoL in most subscales than girls with other forms of LRD. Unexpected attention and perceived physical appearance had a significant impact on HRQoL. There was poor agreement between parent and child report of the child's HRQoL. Conclusion:, Children and adolescents with limb reduction deficiency have a better HRQoL than children with other health conditions but there are subgroups of children who experience a significantly lower HRQoL than their peers. The difference between parent and child ratings should be considered in clinical practice. [source] Assessment of childhood diabetes-related quality-of-life in West SwedenACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2009J E Chaplin Abstract Aim: To investigate health-related quality-of-life (HrQoL) in childhood diabetes and the level of agreement between West Sweden and European reference data for the new multi-cultural European questionnaire , DISABKIDS. Method: Twenty percent of the Swedish paediatric diabetes population was included in the survey. Child-parent pairs completed the DISABKIDS chronic generic (37 questions) and diabetes modules (10 questions) during their routine clinic visit. A one-page results summary, based on positive domains, was used to provide feedback to clinicians. Results: Three hundred and sixty-one child-parent pairs were included in the analysis. In Sweden, diabetes was perceived by the children as having less impact than the European average. Swedish parents rated the HrQoL of their children lower than did the European parents. Swedish girls had a lower HrQoL than boys and greater difficulty accepting their diabetes; adolescents had greater difficulty accepting the diagnosis than younger children. Parents reported greater impact of diabetes on their children than the children themselves but reported no difference between boys and girls. Parents reported better acceptance of treatment in boys. The child's reported quality-of-life (QoL) is related to age and gender. Conclusion: Our results confirm the applicability of DISABKIDS to the Swedish paediatric diabetes population. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||