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Social Function (social + function)
Selected AbstractsTruth, Beauty, and the Social Function of ArtJOURNAL OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY, Issue 1 2004Tom Rockmore [source] The Structure, Mission and Social Function of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (PRA)THE MUSLIM WORLD, Issue 2-3 2008Ali Bardako First page of article [source] Insurance and quality of life in men with prostate cancer: data from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research EndeavorBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2008Natalia Sadetsky OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of medical insurance coverage on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, as insurance status has been shown to be related to clinical presentation, and types of treatments received for localized prostate cancer, but the relationship of insurance and QoL has not been explored sufficiently. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research Endeavor (CaPSURE), a national longitudinal database registry of men with prostate cancer, were used for this study. Men who were newly diagnosed at entry to CaPSURE and completed one questionnaire before treatment, and one or more afterwards, were included. Insurance groups specific to age distribution of the study population were assessed, i.e. Medicare, preferred provider organizations (PPOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), fee for service (FFS), and the Veterans Administration (VA) for the younger group, and Medicare only, Medicare plus supplement (+S), and HMO/PPO for the older group. Associations between patients' clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and insurance status were evaluated by chi-square and analysis of variance. Relationships between insurance status and HRQoL outcomes over time were evaluated by multivariate mixed model. RESULTS Of 2258 men who met the study criteria, 1259 were younger and 999 were older than 65 years. More than half of the younger patients belonged to an HMO or PPO (42.2% and 32.5%, respectively), with the remainder distributed between Medicare, FFS and VA. In the older group most men belonged to Medicare only and the Medicare +S groups (22.4% and 58.8%, respectively). There was greater variation in clinical risk categories at presentation by insurance groups in the younger group. In the multivariate analysis, insurance status was significantly associated with changes in most HRQoL outcomes over time in the younger group, while in the older patients the effect of insurance diminished. Men in the VA and Medicare systems had lower scores at baseline and a steeper decline in Physical Function, Role Physical, Role Emotional, Social Function, Bodily Pain, Vitality, and General Health domains over time, controlling for type of initial treatment received, timing of HRQoL assessment, number of comorbidities, clinical risk at presentation, and income. CONCLUSION Insurance was independently related to changes in a wide range of HRQoL outcomes in men aged <65 years treated for prostate cancer. With the latest advances in early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, clinicians and researchers should be aware of the specific groups of patients who are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of treatment and subsequent decline in functioning. The present findings could provide important tools for understanding the process of recovery after treatment for prostate cancer, and identifying needs for specific services. [source] Depression and Altered Quality of Life in Women with Epilepsy of Childbearing AgeEPILEPSIA, Issue 1 2004Ettore Beghi Summary: Purpose: To calculate the prevalence of depression in a referral population of women of childbearing age, to define the factors associated with depression, and to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the same population. Methods: The 642 consecutive women with epilepsy aged 18,55 years were enrolled by 40 neurologists over an 8-month period and asked to give details on selected demographic and clinical features regarding the disease, any associated clinical condition, and any drug treatment. Depression was diagnosed by using the Hamilton depression scale and HRQOL was measured through the SF-36 form. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic risk factors for depression were searched for within the study population. Results: Depression (any severity) was present at interview in 242 women, giving a prevalence rate of 37.7%[95% confidence interval (CI), 33.9,41.6]. Mild depression was reported by 18.5% of women, moderate depression by 8.6%, major depression by 10.3%, and severe depression by 0.3%. Factors found to be independently associated with depression (any severity) included treatment of associated conditions [relative risk (RR), 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2,1.8), concurrent disability (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0,1.6), seizures in the preceding 6 months (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1,1.7), and being unemployed or a housewife (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0,1.5). Factors associated with moderate to severe depression included treatment for associated conditions (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4,2.7), seizures in the preceding 6 months (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2,2.5), and being unemployed or a housewife (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1,2.2). Compared with normal women of similar age, patients with epilepsy tended to present lower scores for each HRQOL domain (mostly Role Physical, General Health, Social Functioning, and Role Emotional). However, when the analysis was limited to nondepressed women with epilepsy, any difference disappeared. Conclusions: Women with epilepsy of childbearing age are at high risk of depression. Factors associated with depression include lack of occupation, the presence of an underlying disabling condition (with treatment), and the severity of epilepsy. Compared with the general population, depressed women have greater impairment of HRQOL with epilepsy, which reflects the physical, social, and emotional implications of the disease. [source] Metacognition as a mediator of the effects of impairments in neurocognition on social function in schizophrenia spectrum disordersACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2010P. H. Lysaker Lysaker PH, Shea AM, Buck KD, Dimaggio G, Nicolò G, Procacci M, Salvatore G, Rand KL. Metacognition as a mediator of the effects of impairments in neurocognition on social function in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Objective:, This study explored whether Mastery, a domain of metacognition that reflects the ability to use knowledge about mental states to respond to psychological challenges, mediated the effects of neurocognition on the frequency of social contact and persons' capacity for social relatedness. Method:, Participants were 102 adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Neurocognition was represented by a single factor score produced by a principal components analysis of a neurocognitive test battery. Mastery was assessed using the metacognitive assessment scale and social functioning by the quality of life scale. Results:, Using structural equation modeling, specifically measured-variable path analysis, a mediational model consisting of neurocognitive capacity linked to mastery and capacity for social relationships and mastery linked with frequency of social contact and capacity for social relatedness showed acceptable fit to the observed data. This persisted after controlling for negative and cognitive symptoms. Conclusion:, Results suggest that certain forms of metacognition mediate the influence of neurocognition upon function in schizophrenia. [source] Theology is not Mere Sociology: A Theological Reflection on the Reception of the Christian Religion in Mainland ChinaDIALOG, Issue 3 2004By Pilgrim W.K. Abstract:, Post-Maoist China retains its loyalty to Marxist principles; yet voices are being heard that interpret religion much more positively. Both government spokespersons and Religious Studies scholars measure the value of religion according to its social function. Such a criterion of evaluation fails to take account of what is essential to Christian theology, namely, appeal to divine transcendence. Yet, Christian theology in the tradition of the Lutheran Reformation begins with transcendence and turns toward human responsibility for the world through loving the neighbor. This may mark a common cause between Chinese sociology of religion and Christian commitments to social well-being. [source] MANAGING EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE GLOBALIZED WORLD: A DEWEYAN PERSPECTIVEEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 4 2009Maura Striano In the globalization scenarios we currently face, educational systems are challenged by different and sometimes competing pressures and requests. These call for a deep transformation of the organization, role, and social function of educational systems. Within this context, the very concept of education has come to be understood in different ways, which sometimes distort its moral and social value. In this essay, Maura Striano contends that from a Deweyan perspective, educational transformation must be seen as strictly connected to social change, and education should be understood as a process that facilitates and supports social growth and development. In order to be effective and fruitful, Striano suggests, this transformation must occur from the inside of educational systems and can only be brought about by reflective and inquiry-based inner processes if it is to have a sound moral and social impact within the changing framework of the globalized world. That education shares in the confusion of transition, and in the demand for reorganization, is a source of encouragement and not of despair. It proves how integrally the school is bound up with the entire movement of modern life. ,John Dewey, The Educational Situation [source] Psychosocial outcomes in children two years after epilepsy surgery: Has anything changed?EPILEPSIA, Issue 4 2008Irene M. Elliott Summary Purpose: We prospectively explored psychosocial outcomes in children (7,18 years) 2 years after epilepsy surgery. This study built on our previous one that examined these children 1 year after surgery. Methods: Twenty children were studied using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; a parent report instrument of potential behavioral and social problems) preoperatively, 1 year and 2 years after surgery. A comparison group of 12 children with medically refractory seizures was examined at comparable times. We conducted mixed factorial ANOVAs to determine group, time, and interaction effects, and regression analyses to assess factors driving significant (p , 0.05) interactions. We also investigated the proportion of children scoring in the abnormal range over time. Results: Significant main effects of time were observed on total behavior, externalizing, aggression, and delinquent behavior scales, with both groups reporting improvement. Main effects of group were observed for withdrawn and total competence scales, with the surgical group demonstrating favorable scores. Significant group × time interactions were observed on the social and social problems subscales. On both subscales, the surgical group demonstrated improvement over time, whereas the nonsurgical group experienced decline. Fifty percent of the surgical group remained seizure-free. Seizure status and number of antiepileptic medications predicted changes in social scores. We did not observe a significant regression model for the social problems subscale. Discussion: These findings suggest that change in social function may take time to develop after surgery. Prospective studies designed for longer periods are required to determine if improvements in other psychosocial domains are seen over time. [source] Neuronal substrates of gaze following in monkeysEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2009Simone Kamphuis Abstract Human and non-human primates follow the gaze of their respective conspecific to identify objects of common interest. Whereas humans rely on eye-gaze for such purposes, monkeys preferentially use head-gaze information. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have delineated an area in the human superior temporal sulcus (STS), which is specifically activated when subjects actively follow the eye-gaze of others. Similarly, using fMRI, we have identified an analogous region in the monkey's middle STS responding to gaze following. Hence, although humans and monkeys might rely on different directional cues guiding their attention, they seem to deploy a similar and possibly homologous cortical area to follow the gaze of a conspecific. Our results support the idea that the eyes developed a new social function in human evolution, most likely to support cooperative mutual social interactions building on a phylogenetically old STS module for the processing of head cues. [source] Variables associated with attendance at, and the perceived helpfulness of, meetings for people with multiple sclerosisHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 1 2003Tim J. Peters PhD Abstract People who have chronic disabling conditions are frequently advised by health or social care practitioners to attend meetings organised specifically for individuals who have the same or similar health problems. The purpose of the analyses described in the present paper was to ascertain the variables independently associated with attendance at meetings for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and amongst those who did attend, variables related to the level of perceived helpfulness. A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 471 people with MS in eight randomly selected health authorities/boards across England and Scotland with the general aim of eliciting their preferences for and views of health and social care. There were 318 respondents to this questionnaire (68%), 136 (43%) of whom had attended such a meeting. Logistic regression and proportional odds regression models were used to investigate the relationships with the two outcomes of attendance and helpfulness for 23 explanatory variables drawn from the questionnaire. The explanatory variables related to the following six broad areas: socio-demographic, illness-related, support, self-management, psycho-social factors and social function. Just under half of the respondents reported that they had attended a meeting. Half of these individuals found the last meeting that they had attended to be reasonably helpful, and one in five found it of no help. The individuals who were more likely to have attended were aged 45,64 years, had been in contact with a health professional in the past 12 months and felt that they had the ability and means to access MS-related information. The last meeting was considered more helpful by those who reported greater contentment with access to MS-related information and by those with mild depression. These findings should be useful to health professionals who may consider recommending meetings to people with MS, and also to those who are engaged in ensuring that meetings are both attractive and relevant to all potential attendees. [source] Allegiance and Illusion: Queen Victoria's Irish Visit of 1849HISTORY, Issue 288 2002James Loughlin This article examines Queen Victoria's first visit to Ireland in 1849. Taking place in the wake of the Great Famine, the occasion was, nevertheless, a great popular success and raised enduring expectations about inculcating loyalty to the Union among Irish Catholics. Through empirical analysis informed by insights drawn from studies of the social function of public ritual, this article will attempt to assess the visit's significance, especially the extent to which it evidenced authentic loyalty, and whether it deserved to be regarded as the potential harbinger of a loyal and Unionist Ireland. [source] FLORENTINE CIVIC HUMANISM AND THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN IDEOLOGYHISTORY AND THEORY, Issue 3 2007HANAN YORAN ABSTRACT This article revisits the question of the modernity of the Renaissance by examining the political language of Florentine civic humanism and by critically analyzing the debate over Hans Baron's interpretation of the movement. It engages two debates that are usually conducted separately: one concerning the originality of civic humanism in comparison to medieval thought, and the other concerning the political and social function of the civic humanists' political republicanism in fifteenth-century Florence. The article's main contention is that humanist political discourse rejected the perception of social and political reality as being part of, or reflecting, a metaphysical and divine order or things, and thus undermined the traditional justifications for political hierarchies and power relations. This created the conditions of possibility for the distinctively modern aspiration for a social and political order based on liberty and equality. It also resulted in the birth of a distinctively modern form of ideology, one that legitimizes the social order by disguising its inequalities and structures of domination. Humanism, like modern political thought generally, thus simultaneously constructs and reflects the dialectic of emancipation and domination so central to modernity itself. [source] Effects of warm-supplementing kidney yang (WSKY) capsule added on risperidone on cognition in chronic schizophrenic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trialHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 6 2008Zhen-hua Chen Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of warm-supplementing kidney yang (WSKY) capsule added on risperidone on cognition in chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial was conducted. All 200 patients who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with WSKY capsule (n,=,100) or placebo (n,=,100) added on risperidone for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the cognitive function assessment assessed by the classic form of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) at baseline and week 8. The secondary outcome measures were assessed including the positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS), the social disability screening schedule (SDSS), and the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D-17) at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. The extrapyramidal side effects were assessed each week using the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and rating scale for extrapyramidal side effects (RSESE), while adverse events were assessed using treatment emergent symptoms scale (TESS) as additional indicators of tolerability throughout the trial. Results The response rates of the WSKY group for the number of completed categories (CC), errors responses number (ER), perseveringly errors responses number (PER), and conceptual level (CL) of WCST assessment were significantly higher than those of placebo. The reduction in the SDSS score from baseline to endpoint was significantly greater in the WSKY group than those in the placebo. There were no significant differences in the response rates for the correct responses number, perseveringly responses number (PR) of WCST between the treatment groups. The improvements in the WCST indexes, PANSS score, HAM-D-17 score were no significant differences from baseline to endpoint between the two groups at week 8.There were no significant differences in AIMS, RSESE, and TESS compared patients treated with WSKY capsule with those in placebo during treatment. Conclusion WSKY capsule added on risperidone may improve cognitive function, social function of the chronic schizophrenic patients, and the WSKY safely during treatment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Australian implantable cardiac defibrillator recipients: Quality-of-life issuesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 2 2002Dianne Pelletier RN BSci(Nurs), DipEd, FRCNA, MasterSci(Soc) Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become a well-established therapy for people experiencing potentially lethal dysrhythmias. Australian recipients' quality of life and adjustment to the device over time, device-related complications, shock and associated sensations, and potential sequelae have not been widely explored. This paper reports a longitudinal prospective study of Australian ICD recipients (n = 74) to determine their responses to the device, health-related quality of life over time and shock experiences. A questionnaire designed for the study and the Medical Outcomes Trust Quality of Life Instrument, the SF36, were completed by recipients prior to and at 3 and 12 months post insertion. Results show that quality of life decreased for general health and social function between 3 and 12 months. Nearly half (49%) of the recipients received shocks within 12 months and the majority (92%) of these experienced sequelae that could make driving hazardous. Half of the population (49%) were driving at 3 months and 69% by 12 months, including 67% of those who had been shocked. Twenty-seven percent were hospitalized with device-related complications. Driving, the shock experience and rehospitalization, the shock experience and driving behaviour are significant issues for those with the implanted device. While it is a limitation of the study that partners and carers were not included, these findings will also be of interest to them. [source] Night-time frequency, sleep disturbance and general health-related quality of life: Is there a relation?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 1 2009Koji Yoshimura Objectives: We conducted a community-based study to determine the relationship among night-time frequency, sleep disturbance and general health-related quality of life (GHQL). Methods: A total of 2271 participants, men and women, aged 41,70 and randomly selected in three Japanese towns completed a postal questionnaire survey. This questionnaire included: the International Prostate Symptom Score, the overall incontinence score of the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form for lower urinary tract symptoms, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index for sleep problems, the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-8 for GHQL, and medical history of disease, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. A multiple regression model was used for statistical analysis, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Although night-time frequency by itself was closely associated with most aspects of GHQL, this association disappeared in four domains (general health perception, vitality, mental health and emotional role) and in the two summary scores of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-8 after inclusion of the influence of sleep problems represented by the total score on the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. However, three domains (physical function, physical role, and social function) remained significantly associated with night-time frequency. Sleep problems were by far the worst risk factor for the deterioration of GHQL. Conclusions: Night-time frequency appeared to be associated with GHQL mainly by affecting sleep conditions, a symptom that independently influenced some aspects of GHQL. [source] Impact of salvage therapy for biochemical recurrence on health-related quality of life following radical prostatectomyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 3 2007Shunichi Namiki Objective: To determine the impact of salvage therapy for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP). Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2003, a total of 249 patients who underwent RP were available for 2-year follow up. Of the respondents, 203 men did not show evidence of recurrence (group A), and 46 men received salvage hormonal therapy and/or radiotherapy after RP because of a rise in PSA (group B). The general and prostate-target HRQOL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form and University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, respectively. Patients completed the HRQOL instruments by mail at baseline and at 24 months after RP. Results: All of the patients completed both questionnaires. At baseline no significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the HRQOL domains. There were significant improvements in mental health and social function for the patients without biochemical recurrence postoperatively. Repeated measure anova revealed significantly different patterns of alteration in several general HRQOL domains among the treatment groups. The urinary and bowel domains were equivalent between the two treatment groups at baseline and 24 months after RP. The patients treated with salvage hormonal therapy tended to show delayed recovery of sexual function. Conclusion: Using a self-administered questionnaire, biochemical recurrence following RP was found to impose a substantial burden in patients with localized prostate cancer. [source] QUALITY OF LIFE OF GREEK PATIENTS WITH END STAGE RENAL DISEASE UNDERGOING HAEMODIALYSISJOURNAL OF RENAL CARE, Issue 3 2010Maria Kastrouni RN SUMMARY An evaluation of the quality of life of patients with end stage kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis in the Greek population was conducted to understand whether this quality could be improved. Comparisons were made with a similar study conducted in United States in regards to the effects of kidney disease in daily life, burden of kidney disease, work status, cognitive function, quality of social interaction, sexual function, social support, physical functioning, role physical on daily routine, pain, general health perceptions, role emotional, emotional well being, social function and energy/fatigue. Any differences are discussed and analysed. Sexual problems were found to be more prominent in this study, but the emotional status has greater influence in quality of life in the US study. The results were more positive in Greece with respect to dialysis staff encouragement, patient satisfaction, as well as acceptance and the understanding of illness. The results from our study reflect the differences of the health care systems in various countries as well as population-related beliefs and values. [source] Gossip as strategy: The management of talk about others on reality TV show ,Big Brother'JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 2 2004Joanna Thornborrow In this paper we examine the nature of gossip talk as an activity type in the context of the TV game show ,Big Brother'. Using a detailed analytic approach to the situated nature of gossip sequences, we show how participants in the show manage gossip talk strategically to establish social relationships within the house, as well as to present themselves in a positive way to the viewing (and voting) audience. We argue that there is a contextual double framing for talk in the Big Brother (BB) house which participants are orienting to, both as members of a social group, and as players in a TV game show. The paper thus contributes to existing work on the social function of gossip, as well as exploring its strategic function in this particular interactional context, calling into question the nature of ,natural' discourse. [source] Health-related quality of life in a cohort of adult patients with mild hemophilia AJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 5 2008M. WALSH Summary.,Objectives:,To compare the health-related quality of life among adult males affected with mild hemophilia A due to the same mutation (Val2016ala) to that of unaffected age and sex matched controls from the same general population. Methods:,The Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were used to measure health-related quality of life and physical function. Other measures included bleeding history, a measure of joint damage, body mass index, age, and viral infection status. Cross-sectional data were collected through research clinics and a retrospective chart audit over a two-year period. Results and Conclusions:,The study included 47 affected males and 33 controls. The affected males had a higher level of co-morbidity, prior bleeding, and existing joint damage than controls. With the exception of the social function and health transition scales, mean scores for each of the SF-36 domains were worse among affected males. Mean differences were more than a clinically important five points in five of eight domains, with the general health scale showing more than a 10-point difference. Despite the degree of difference noted, only two of the differences were statistically significant (general health and role emotional scales) because of the small sample size and considerable individual variation in SF-36 scale scores. Multiple regression analyses suggested existing joint damage and presence of heart disease as the strongest associates of lower physical health-related quality of life. Joint damage in turn was partly related to prior hemarthroses. Compared to the Canadian population, affected males had lower scores in six out of eight SF-36 domains as well as the physical component summary score. There were no significant differences found in the HAQ scores between the two groups. So-called mild hemophilia A was associated with a negative effect on physical health-related quality of life, contributed to by joint damage as a result of prior bleeding. [source] Language Is a Complex Adaptive System: Position PaperLANGUAGE LEARNING, Issue 2009The "Five Graces Group" Language has a fundamentally social function. Processes of human interaction along with domain-general cognitive processes shape the structure and knowledge of language. Recent research in the cognitive sciences has demonstrated that patterns of use strongly affect how language is acquired, is used, and changes. These processes are not independent of one another but are facets of the same,complex adaptive system,(CAS). Language as a CAS involves the following key features: The system consists of multiple agents (the speakers in the speech community) interacting with one another. The system is adaptive; that is, speakers' behavior is based on their past interactions, and current and past interactions together feed forward into future behavior. A speaker's behavior is the consequence of competing factors ranging from perceptual constraints to social motivations. The structures of language emerge from interrelated patterns of experience, social interaction, and cognitive mechanisms. The CAS approach reveals commonalities in many areas of language research, including first and second language acquisition, historical linguistics, psycholinguistics, language evolution, and computational modeling. [source] Adaptationism for Human Cognition: Strong, Spurious or Weak?MIND & LANGUAGE, Issue 1 2005Scott Atran This strategy seems best when there is evidence of homology. Weak adaptationists don't assume that complex organic (including cognitive and linguistic) functioning necessarily or primarily represents task-specific adaptation. This approach to cognition resembles physicists' attempts to deductively explain the most facts with fewest hypotheses. For certain domain-specific competencies (folkbiology) strong adaptationism is useful but not necessary to research. With group-level belief systems (religion) strong adaptationism degenerates into spurious notions of social function and cultural selection. In other cases (language, especially universal grammar) weak adaptationism's ,minimalist' approach seems productive. [source] Reliability, validity and responsiveness of a new leisure index: The Patient-Specific Leisure Scale (PSLS)MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 3 2009Ingegerd Wikström Abstract Objectives:,To investigate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of a new Patient-Specific Leisure Scale (PSLS), constructed to identify goals and outcomes for individual patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods:,Forty-nine patients with RA were used to evaluate test,retest reliability, and 100 consecutive RA patients were used for construct validity. Twenty-five RA patients, commencing with treatment on tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, were evaluated before the start and after three months of therapy, to test responsiveness. The most important leisure activity (as judged by the patients) was used when evaluating reliability and validity. The perceived difficulty with each activity was scored from 0 to 10 (0 = able to perform activity without difficulty, 10 = unable to perform activity). Results:,Test,retest reliability indicated a good agreement (0.62,0.87) using weighted kappa. Construct validity was demonstrated by modest positive correlation between leisure activity and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) (rs = 0.27, p = 0.005) visual analogue scale (VAS) pain (rs = 0.28, p = 0.004) VAS global (rs = 0.22, p = 0.027), VAS fatigue (rs = 0.24, p = 0.013), joint index of 28 swollen joints (rs = 0.22, p = 0.027) and negative correlations with short-form-36 (SF-36) physical functioning (rs = ,0.18, p = 0.008), bodily pain (rs = ,0.31, p < 0.001), general health (rs = ,0.23, p = 0.019), vitality (rs = ,0.31, p < 0.001), social function (rs = ,0.24, p = 0.016) and role-emotional (rs = ,0.28, p = 0.005). Mean improvement for the most important leisure activity was 1.36, (p = 0.036, 95% confidence interval 0.10,2.62). Standardized response mean and effect size for the most important activity in PSLS was 1.05 and 0.72, respectively, and for HAQ 0.34 and 0.28, respectively. Conclusions:,PSLS appears to be feasible, reliable, valid and responsive for measuring leisure activities in RA. It provides both an individual result which is useful in clinical work, and results at a group level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Associations between leisure-time physical activity and health-related quality of life among adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancersPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Raheem J. Paxton Abstract Objective: Survivors of childhood cancer are at an increased risk for reduced quality of life (QOL), yet few studies have explored factors associated with improving health-related QOL (HRQOL) in this population. We thus explored the relationship between physical activity (PA) and HRQOL among survivors of childhood cancer. Methods: A total of 215 survivors of childhood lymphoma, leukemia, and central nervous system cancers completed mailed surveys that elicited information regarding leisure-time PA (LTPA) measured in metabolic equivalents, HRQOL, and diagnostic and demographic factors. Correlations and adjusted regression models were used to explore the relationship between LTPA and HRQOL. Results: In the total sample, modest, yet significant linear associations were observed between LTPA and overall HRQOL (,=0.17, p<0.01), as well as each of the respective subscales (,=0.11,0.23 and p's<0.05 to <0.001). Among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer, LTPA was significantly associated with overall HRQOL (,=0.27), cancer worry (,=0.36), cognitive function (,=0.32), body appearance (,=0.29), and social function (,=0.27) (all p's<0.05). Among adult survivors of childhood cancer, LTPA was only significantly associated with physical function (,=0.28, p<0.001). Conclusions: Significant associations exist between LTPA and HRQOL; however, the association was stronger and observed in more domains for adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. More research is needed to determine the antecedents and consequences of PA in this population. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Measuring social activities and social function in long-term cancer survivors who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantationPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Karen L. Syrjala Abstract Objective: Cancer survivors report deficits in social functioning even years after completing treatment. Commonly used measures of social functioning provide incomplete understanding of survivors' social behavior. This study describes social activities of survivors and evaluates the psychometric properties of the Social Activity Log (SAL) in a cohort of long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for cancer. Methods: One hundred and two (5,20 year) survivors completed the SAL, Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and other patient-reported outcomes. Principal components analysis determined the factor structure of the SAL along with correlations and regressions to establish validity. Results: Principal component analysis yielded three factors in the SAL: ,non-contact events' (e.g. telephone calls), ,regular events' (e.g. played cards), and ,special events' (e.g. concerts), which explained 59% of the total variance. The SAL possessed good internal consistency (Cronbach's ,=0.82). SF-36 social function and SAL were moderately correlated (r=0.31). In linear regressions, physical function and depression explained 16% of the variance in the SAL (P<0.001), while physical function, depression, and fatigue predicted 55% of the variance in SF-36 social function (P<0.001). Conclusions: Results support the use of the SAL as a measure of social activity in cancer survivors who received HSCT. Although the SAL is designed to measure social behaviors, SF-36 social function assesses subjective experience and is more strongly associated with depression and fatigue. The SAL appears to be a promising tool to understand the behavioral social deficits reported by long-term survivors of cancer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Grooming patterns in Verreaux's sifakaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Rebecca J. Lewis Abstract Lemur grooming has received very little attention in the literature. Nevertheless, allogrooming in lemurs has been suggested to be fundamentally different from the grooming of anthropoids. One reason is that lemurs generally rely on oral rather than manual grooming. Lemur allogrooming has also been suggested to serve less of a social function than has been attributed to anthropoid grooming. I analyzed the allogrooming behaviors of 29 Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) living in five social groups in the Kirindy Forest of Madagascar. Based upon 1,586 observation hours, I found that sifaka, like anthropoids, spend very little time mutual grooming (2±3%). Half of all allogrooming involved parts of the body that could have been easily groomed by the recipient, such as the limbs. Even though ectoparasite loads are expected to be greater during the rainy season, allogrooming did not increase during the rainy season. Allogrooming rates were influenced by both rank and sex, and increased by 50,100% during the mating season. The results of this study suggest that allogrooming in Verreaux's sifaka plays an important social function, even though it is performed with a toothcomb. Am. J. Primatol. 72:254,261, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Study of the Factors Affecting Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents After Liver TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2009R. M. Taylor The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adolescents after liver transplantation. HRQL was measured using the CHQ-CF87 in 55 adolescents, aged 12,18 years. Factors associated with HRQL included allograft morbidity, psychological and family-related variables measured through standardized questionnaires. The domains of the CHQ-CF87 were reduced using factor analysis to give physical, psychological and social domains. Impacting factors were identified through stepwise, multiple regression analysis. Adolescents had significantly lower HRQL in every domain except for role/social-behavior and family cohesion compared to the general population. Adolescents experienced median 18 (range 4,31) symptoms related to immunosuppression, 40(75%) had one or more chronic illnesses related to immunosuppression and 12(22%) had a history of emotional difficulties. Self-esteem and emotional health were similar to the general population but behavior and aspects of family function were lower. Following regression analysis, the factors associated with HRQL were: age at transplant, secondary chronic illness, symptom distress, headaches, history of emotional difficulties, self-esteem and family conflict. These explained 57% of the variance in physical function, 61% of psychological function and 39% of social function. HRQL is significantly reduced in adolescents after transplantation, which could be related to immunosuppression and psychosocial factors. [source] QUALITY-OF-LIFE EFFECT OF TONSILLECTOMY IN A YOUNG ADULT GROUPANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 11 2007Amanda L. Richards Background: To examine the quality of life after tonsillectomy in a young adult group with chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. Methods: Retrospective survey of patients aged 15,25 years who underwent tonsillectomy for chronic or recurrent tonsillitis in 2002 or 2003. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory was mailed to patients who were selected from two private general otolaryngology practices. Results: Participants had an overall benefit from the procedure as well as improvement in their general well-being and physical health. A benefit in social function was not imparted. Conclusion: Tonsillectomy in a young adult group results in significant improvement in overall quality of life, physical health and general well-being. [source] Health-related quality of life and psychosocial factors in patients with prostate cancer scheduled for radical prostatectomy or external radiation therapyBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2003G. Van Andel OBJECTIVE To assess whether baseline health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and psychosocial profiles differ in patients with prostate cancer scheduled for radical prostatectomy (RP) or external radiation therapy (ERT), as there is evidence that HRQOL is influenced by psychosocial factors (PFs), so that any variation at baseline should be considered when comparing the effect of therapy on HRQOL. PATIENTS AND METHODS Before receiving therapy, HRQOL and PFs were assessed in 65 patients scheduled for RP and in 73 scheduled for ERT. To measure HRQOL (generic and disease-specific) and PFs, an extended questionnaire was constructed, using validated and standardized instruments. Clinical data were collected from patients' medical records. Comparisons adjusted for age and socio-economic status (SES) were analysed using Student's t -test and univariate analyses of variance and covariance. RESULTS Patients scheduled for ERT were 7.9 years older and had a lower SES (both P < 0.001), more often had stage T3 and T4 disease, had poorer histopathological differentiation and higher levels of prostate-specific antigen (all P < 0.01). They also reported a worse physical, role, cognitive and social function, more fatigue, more pain, a lower overall HRQOL and worse sexual function than patients scheduled for RP. There were no differences in urinary and bowel function, nor in the PFs assessed. CONCLUSION The baseline HRQOL profile of patients scheduled for RP is better than in those scheduled for ERT. These results are in line with those from the few other studies on this subject. Knowing the impact of RP and ERT on HRQOL should therefore be based mainly on longitudinal studies including baseline measures, the analyses of which should be adjusted for age and SES. In the present small study, baseline PFs did not differ between the treatments. [source] Long-term health-related quality of life following surgery for oesophageal cancerBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 9 2008T. Djärv Background: The aim of the study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with surgically cured oesophageal cancer. Methods: A Swedish nationwide cohort of patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer between April 2001 and January 2004 was studied prospectively, and compared with a Swedish age- and sex-adjusted reference population. Validated European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaires were used to assess HRQL at 6 months and 3 years after surgery. A mean score difference of 10 or more between groups was considered clinically relevant and tested further for statistical significance. Results: Of 358 patients, 117 (32·7 per cent) survived for at least 3 years. Of these, 87 patients (74·4 per cent) responded to the questionnaires. Six months after surgery, most aspects of HRQL were substantially worse than in the reference population with no improvement at 3 years. Patients alive at 3 years reported significantly poorer role and social function, and significantly more problems with fatigue, diarrhoea, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, than in the reference population. Conclusion: HRQL in long-term survivors after oesophagectomy does not improve between 6 months and 3 years after surgery, and is worse than that in a comparable reference population. Copyright © 2008 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Health-related quality of life among patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction treated by gastrectomy or oesophagectomy,BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 1 2008A. P. Barbour Background: Tumours of the gastro-oesophageal junction may be resected by total gastrectomy (TG) or transthoracic oesophagectomy (TTO). This study compared health-related quality of life (HRQL) following these procedures. Methods: Prospective clinical and HRQL data (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30) were collected from 63 consecutive patients (20 TG and 43 TTO) before and 6 months after surgery for Siewert type I,III gastro-oesophageal tumours. Results: Questionnaire response rates exceeded 90 per cent. Patients were similar with respect to disease stage, treatment-related mortality and survival, but those selected for TTO were younger with less co-morbidity than those undergoing TG. These differences were reflected in baseline HRQL scores, which were better in patients selected for TTO. Six months after surgery, however, HRQL showed a greater deterioration after TTO than after TG in terms of role and social function, global quality of life and fatigue. Symptom scores for pain and diarrhoea increased in both groups. Conclusion: TTO had a greater negative impact on HRQL than TG for tumours of the gastro-oesophageal junction. Copyright © 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||