Activity Quality Of Life Research Articles

The nurse's guide to myasthenia gravis

With treatment from an interprofessional team, most patients with MG are expected to have an active quality of life and a lifespan similar to people without the disease.

Quality of Life of Nurses Working in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

Quality of life refers to persons' sense of well-being based on their satisfaction with the important areas of their life. Work related stresses causes various physical and mental health problems to the nurses which reduces their quality of life. The study aimed to find out the quality of life of the nurses. A descriptive cross sectional, study was conducted among 135 nurses working in different units of a Tertiary Hospital, Kathmandu. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. Self- administered WHO Quality of Life-BREF Version tool was used to collect the data. Pearson Correlation was used to find out the relationship between actual quality of life and perceived quality of life of participants at p-value ≤0.05. More than two third (71.1%) of the participants had good perceived quality of life (Mean±SD=3.7±0.63) and 65.2% were satisfied with their health (Mean±SD = 3.52±0.80). Similarly, nearly half of the participants (48.1%) had below average mean score of quality of life. Overall mean score of quality of life obtained by participants was 60.74±9.02. The obtained mean score was highest in social domain (66.17±10.86) and lowest in environmental domain (52.8±10.6). There was significant correlation between actual quality of life and perceived quality of life of participants. As nearly half of the participants had below average quality of life, concerned authorities should pay attention to improve nurse's working environment and physical health to improve their quality of life.

Is There a Relationship Between Perceived Activity Performance-Satisfaction Level and Quality of Life in Activities of Daily Living in Adults with Plantar Fasciitis?

Aim: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a disease that negatively affects quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living and is the most common cause of heel pain. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between QOL, perceived activity performance and satisfaction in adults with PF and to determine the activities that have problems in daily living.
 Materials and Methods: A total of 96 participants, 26 male and 70 female, aged between 18-65 years, with a mean age of 53.88±6.41 years diagnosed with PF completed the study. The Nottingham Health Profile was used to determine the QOL, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was used to determine the perceived activity performance and satisfaction level.
 Results: The findings show the perceived activity performance and satisfaction levels of individuals with PF are negatively related to pain and energy levels, which are sub-dimensions of QOL (p=0.001; p=0.017; p=0.001; p=0.018). Moreover, it has been determined individuals have problems in many activities, such as walking, working, going up and down stairs, housecleaning and sleeping.
 Conclusion: This study showed the QOL of individuals with PF decreases as activity performance and satisfaction level decrease. Pain is one of the most important factors affecting activity performance, and recurrent and increasing pain with activity may have limited activity participation in individuals with PF. Therefore, pain should be considered as a priority in the evaluation and intervention plans of individuals with PF. Also, activity-based intervention plans should be developed for activities where these individuals have problems in daily living.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental burden and quality of life in medical students - results of an online survey.

Changes in academic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are potential stressors for medical students and can make them vulnerable for the development of psychiatric disorders.Previous pandemics had a negative impairment on well-being due to social isolation and the perceived threat, an increase in fear, anger and frustration and an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder among health professionals. Therefore, this study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students' mental health and possible psychological consequences. In this anonymous online survey (online 12/01/2021-03/31/2022), we examined the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of 561 German medical students aged between 18 und 45 years. Perceived anxiety and burden were assessed retrospectively from spring 2020 to autumn 2021. Changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), quality of life was assessed using the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL BREF). Anxiety and burden showed wavelike courses with higher scores in autumn, winter and spring. The scores for depression and anxiety increased after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before (p<.001). Results of a multifactorial ANOVA showed, that previous psychiatric illness (p<.001), being in the first two years of studies (p=.006), higher burden (p=.013) and greater differences in symptoms of depression (p<.001) were associated with a decreased quality of life in medical students. The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on mental health of medical students and their actual quality of life. Therefore, medical faculties should establish specific support to prevent the development of psychiatric sequelae probably resulting in long-term medical leaves.

Quality of Life of Post-renal Transplant Patients in Rawalpindi.

Objectives The objective is to assess the overall quality of life (QoL) in patients who had undergone renal transplant within the last three years and correlate this index with various demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, and education level and to correlate the QoLscore calculated vs. the health status perceived by the patients themselves Materials and methods This was an analytical cross-sectional study, carried out over a period of five months. A total of 123 patients were targeted amongwhich data from 79 patients were gathered including all the patients that underwent kidney transplantation in the past three years at a renal transplant center in CMH, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Non- Probability convenience sampling was used, and data were collected using the WHOQOL-BREF tool that contained 25 questions targeted to four domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental). The Questionnaire was administered over the phone with proper consent taken beforehand. Data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS version 23. Results A total of 79 patients were administered the questionnaire with the mean age of our study population being 35±11 years out of which 84.5% were male and 15.5% were female. Patients received the kidney from relative donors (98.4%) with the highest percentage being sister donors (30.9%). The majority of patients reported from Punjab (54.4%), with the rest from far-flung rural areas. An estimated 62.5% of the patients presented with other systemic/psychological disorders such as DM+, IHD, HTN, Hepatitis C, depression, etc. The mean global score of these patients was 79.21 which can be broken down into four domains, physical domain 80.40, psychological domain 78.99, social domain 82.70, and environmental domain 74.75. Conclusion In a developing country such as Pakistan, with most of the patients belonging to lower or middle socioeconomic groups, we believe that the patient's own sense of QoLis overshadowed by the mere exuberance of being given a second chance at life which was portrayed by the discrepancies in the perceived vs actual QoL graph. One common recurring theme that was noticed whilst interviewing the patients was that the difficulties they might have faced post-transplant paled in comparison to how grateful they were to live another day. A positive trend was noticed between the time since transplant and the QoL score which could be attributed to various factors such as the use of aggressive immunosuppressants, fear of injury, fear of transplant rejection, etc. in the first-year post-transplant. Demographic variables such as income, age, location, etc. did not affect the scores of these patients on a great scale. The present study aims to guide cliniciansin the improvement of long-term outcomes of renal transplantation in Pakistan.

Assessing Life Surveys of Medical Students and Need-Based Student Services

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of a study on the psychological state, lifestyle, self-management ability, and academic adaptation of medical students, and to present examples of improvement of a student support center based on the results. A medical school in Daegu has been surveying the living conditions of students every year for 6 years since 2016. More than 60% of medical students experienced depression and more than 70% experienced stress, but these rates have significantly improved over the past 5 years. There were many cases of drinking or smoking to relieve stress, but the frequency of drinking recently decreased substantially. Some students had difficulties in emotional regulation (11.5%) and time management (16.6%), and challenges in planning and self-management increased significantly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The satisfaction and adaptability of medical students are high, but the number of students who are not satisfied with but negative response rate is 2%-3% in every year. However, satisfaction has significantly increased in tandem with curriculum changes and COVID-19. Based on these data, the counseling system was reorganized to support psychological stability, the medical humanities curriculum was improved, and changes in actual quality of life were induced by developing and operating non-curricular programs. Furthermore, standardized questionnaires will be developed and data from many medical schools will be shared, which is expected to support medical students more effectively.

Role of leisure activity in quality of life and meaning in life of male and female older adults

Context: India at present is experiencing a phenomenal increase in the number of older adults. Old age is marked by challenges across multiple domains of life. To overcome the challenges of old age, the focus should be on improving the quality of life (QOL) and meaning in life (MIL) of older adults. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of leisure activity on QOL and MIL of male and female older adults in old-age homes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 male and female retired older adults (65–80 years), living in old-age homes of Hooghly district, West Bengal, using the Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL-35) by Bowling and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) by Steger, Frazier, Oishi, &amp; Kaler. Results: Older adults who engaged in active leisure activities had higher QOL and MIL than those engaged in passive leisure activities. Male older adults had higher QOL and MIL than female older adults. Conclusion: Opportunities to pursue active leisure activities should be promoted among older adults in old-age homes.

Religious/spiritual experiences, quality of life and satisfaction with life of hospitalized octogenarians.

to assess quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with life (SWL) indices and verify whether the frequency of religious and spiritual experiences is associated with QoL and SWL in hospitalized octogenarians. this is a cross-sectional study, with 128 octogenarians. World Health Organization QoL instruments and Scales applied: Daily Spiritual Experience (DSES) and Satisfaction With Life (SWLS). more committed domains related to QoL and SWL: autonomy and physical capacity. The higher the score in DSES, the higher the scores in the psychological domains and past, present, and future QoL activities. The higher the score in DSES, the higher the score in the social involvement aspect. the results of this study showed that the higher frequency of religious and spiritual experiences of hospitalized elderly people was associated with better QoL and SWL. It is emphasized that religious and spiritual experiences should be explored in the hospital therapeutic context.

Integrative review and evaluation of quality of life related instruments in pediatric urology

While most paediatric urologists consider patients' quality of life (QOL) important, few actually measure this outcome. Our goal was to assess instruments used in the pediatric urology QOL literature, specifically looking at whether they captured QOL. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for articles with a self-described primary outcome of measuring QOL. All validated QOL instruments in the papers were analyzed by QOL instrument content experts. Instruments were classified as focusing on: Functioning or QOL (Table). The term Functioning focuses on performing activities. QOL captures person's perceptions about their position in life, informed by circumstances, functioning and conditions. QOL instruments were further subdivided into generic QOL, health-related QOL (HRQOL) and disease-specific HRQOL. Only direct patient self-reported QOL instruments were then assessed, since they are the most clinically useful, reliably assessing patients' own perception of their QOL. Forty-three publications met inclusion criteria (published 1999-2019). Most common conditions included urinary incontinence (16, 37.2%) and kidney transplantation (12, 27.9%). Overall, 22 unique instruments purporting to measure QOL were identified. Looking at the concepts measured by each instrument, nine instruments (40.9%) assessed Functioning. Nine instruments (40.9%) measured a combination of Functioning and QOL. Only the remaining 4 instruments (18.2%) assessed strictly QOL. The 13 instruments assessing any QOL focused on generic QOL (n=4), HRQOL (n=3) and disease-specific HRQOL (n=6). Of the subset of four instruments assessing strictly QOL, and not Functioning, all had patient self-reported versions available: two generic QOL instruments (KINDL, KIDSCREEN), one generic HRQOL (DISABKIDS), and one disease-specific HRQOL (QUALAS). Thirteen of 43 studies (30.2%) employed more than one instrument. Thirty-eight studies (88.4%) used an instrument measuring Functioning, with 19 (44.1%) measuring only Functioning, not QOL at all. Twenty-four studies (55.8%) used an instrument measuring actual QOL, although 17 (39.5%) used a combined Functioning/QOL instrument. Only nine (20.9%) used a strictly QOL instrument (strictly HRQOL instruments: 4.7%). We present encouraging evidence of sustained interest in QOL research in pediatric urology and identify areas needing improvement. Selecting appropriate QOL tools requires a working knowledge of their various underlying meanings and purposes. Whether it adequately assess QOL must be considered. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of instruments and a practical approach to QOL instrument selection. Much of pediatric urology is grounded in improving QOL. Unfortunately, most studies published to date focus on Functioning, rather than young people's perception-based QOL. Future QOL studies should ideally employ validated instruments capturing patient-reported QOL.

Agreement Between Proxy-Rated and Self-Reported Quality of Life for Persons With Dementia

While quality of life (QOL) is an important endpoint of homecare for persons with dementia (PWD), PWDs often have difficulty in articulating their QOL by themselves. Instead proxy-rating is often used. However, evidence is still scarce regarding to what extent proxy-ratings reflect actual QOL of PWDs. We examined the association between self-report QOL by PWDs and proxy-rated QOL. We conducted a questionnaire survey to PWDs who were 75 years and older, their family, and homecare nurse in charge of the PWD. Two measures were used: 1) a newly developed, 4-item self-report for QOL of PWDs, and 2) a standardized, 6-item proxy-rating dementia QOL scale. In the self-report, the PWD were asked about their daily mood or satisfaction in life in brief, easy-to-understand sentences. The self-reports and proxy-ratings were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Data from 382 PWDs, 248 family caregivers and 124 nurses were used. The mean age of PWD was 85.9 years and 60.5% were female. The proxy-rating by nurses were more strongly associated with self-reports, compared to the association between family proxy rating and self-reports (r = 0.351, p < .001; r = 0.236, p < .001, respectively). Proxy ratings by spouses and biological children were significantly associated with self-report (r = 0.257, p =.004; r =. 204, p = .006, respectively), while rating by children-in-law were not (r = 0.217, p = .160). Proxy-ratings may not be an appropriate substitute for self-report. Homecare nurses may evaluate the QOL of PWD better than their family caregiver.

Physical activity barriers and resources among black women with a history of breast and endometrial cancer: a systematic review.

The purpose of this paper was to systematically review, summarize, and synthesize findings on physical activity-related research including barriers, facilitators, and resources for physical activity among posttreatment black women with a history of breast and endometrial cancer. We developed a comprehensive search strategy and conducted searches in the following databases: PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, and Sociological Abstracts. Summary measures were described qualitatively (e.g., themes) and quantitatively (e.g., frequencies). This review identified 35 eligible articles describing 12 intervention and 23 observational studies. We described intervention preferences (e.g., resistance activities), beliefs about physical activity, and benefits of physical activity for quality of life (e.g., improvements in social wellbeing) in black cancer survivors. In addition, very few studies identified barriers to physical activity (n = 7) and focused on increasing physical activity (n = 12) among black women with a history of cancer. The most common reported barriers among the target population were fatigue, lack of social support, weather, illness/health issues, cost, time constraints, living too far away, and inability/unwillingness to obtain physician clearance, whereas the most common facilitators were faith, other health concerns, and social support. Future studies should target barriers, facilitators, and culturally adapted strategies for physical activity at all levels of influence to develop multi-level interventions to engage and improve physical activity among black women with a history of breast and endometrial cancer. CRD42018110008.

Abstract 710: Quality of Life Assessment in Yucatan Mini Swine after Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Quality of life assessments (QOL) measurements are valuable in assessing functional class in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Yet, limited quantifiable QOL measures are available in pre-clinical animal models of CHF. To address this issue, we developed methods of QOL assessments in mini swine after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Quality of life activity was continuously monitored in Yucatan mini-swine using collar-mounted activity monitors (Fitbark 2) and by performing treadmill exercise tests. Activity treadmill data were obtained for 1 month before and 1 month following MI. Myocardial infarction was created by 90-minute occlusion-reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Infarct size and ventricular volumes were measured with Magnetic Resonance Imaging prior to and 1 month after MI. Results: The swine had an average MI size of 20±3%, with increases in LV end-diastolic volume from 62.8±7.8 to 72.1±7.4 ml, LV end-systolic volume from 22.1±2.7 to 36.6±4.8 ml and a decrease in EF from 65±3% to 49±4%, N=5-6 (P&lt;0.05). The 24/7 total FitBark Activity Scores using area under the curve decreased post MI from 184.5±16.8 to 159.4±19.5, N=7-8 (P&lt;0.01). Conclusions: These data demonstrate the feasibility of measuring quality of life in mini swine after myocardial infarction defined by activity level and treadmill exercise testing. This work establishes the potential basis for presenting quality of life measurements in animals as adjunctive assessment of new treatments for chronic heart failure after myocardial infarction.

노인의 건강관련 삶의 질과 골밀도 및 신체활동과의 연관성 검증

This study investigated the associations of bone mineral density (BMD) and physical activity with healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly. Data from the 2008-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) involving 5,776 elderly aged ≥ 60 years were used. Based on femur neck BMD T-scores, subjects were classified as normal BMD and osteopenia/osteoporosis. According to WHO recommendations of physical activity for elderly, the subjects were classified as sufficiently active, insufficiently active, and completely inactive groups. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratio (OR) for lowest EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) and EuroQoL-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Compared to the sufficiently active group (reference), completely inactive group had a higher OR for lowest EQ-5D (OR=1.649, P=.002) and EQ-VAS (OR=1.451, P=.021) in normal BMD of men, and in terms of osteopenia/osteoporosis, completely inactive group had a higher OR than sufficiently active group for lowest EQ-5D (OR=1.427, P=.010) and EQ-VAS (OR=1.986, P<.001). Similarly, in comparison to the sufficiently active group, completely inactive group had a higher OR for lowest EQ-VAS (OR=1.283, P=.008) in osteopenia/osteoporosis in women. The current findings suggested that the prognostic importance of BMD status and physical activity for quality of life might be sex-specific in elderly.

Health-related quality of life and leisure physical activity during pregnancy

The practice of physical activity during pregnancy plays an important role related to improvement how women perceive their health status. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived quality of life during pregnancy and the practice of physical activity during leisure time. It is a cross-sectional study of 187 postpartum women. A retrospective questionnaire was administered to obtain information regarding pregnancy, being evaluated the pattern of physical activity and health status. To evaluate the aspects related to quality of life we used the SF-12 questionnaire. The statistical analysis were t-test, chi-square and multiple linear regression analysis. From the results it was observed that mothers who were active during pregnancy considered their good or excellent health compared do non active (p=0.005, 35.9% and 15.5% respectively). Active women had higher mental component when compared to those who did not practice (p=0.035). There was a relationship between mental component with the private health service, income, education level, disease and presence of a partner. The physical component was related to maternal age, low birth weight, obesity, and smoking during pregnancy. Despite univariate analysis showed a positive association between physical activity during leisure time and the mental component of quality of life related to health, this association lost significance when included age and care health sectors. Longitudinal studies should be developed to measure effects of physical activity in quality of life.

VFR travel: Do visits improve or reduce our quality of life?

Abstract Quality of Life (QOL) has started to emerge as an important component across numerous disciplines including tourism. Whilst studies regarding QOL have been around for decades in many disciplines, the field is relatively new in tourism. The relationship between QOL and tourism is important given that there have been studies revealing that travel can increase an individual's perceived and actual QOL. Those studies that have examined the relationship between QOL and tourism have focused on pleasure/leisure travel. Thus, other types of travel, namely Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel have not been examined with respect to QOL. In terms of QOL, VFR can be derided in conversation, identifying it as an unwanted irritation that can hardly boost QOL. This is particularly relevant in terms of VFR hosting. However, the link between VFR and QOL has not been empirically tested and as such, it is unclear whether VFR can improve or reduce QOL. Accordingly, this paper examines the link between VFR travel and QOL. Based on a sample size of 552 across Australia, this research found that whilst VFR can reduce QOL in some situations, in most cases, positive QOL benefits arise from both hosting and visiting VFRs.

Application of Robot to Hand Function Rehabilitation

Background: Hand is one of the most important and common parts of the body. Hand dysfunction caused by hemiplegia and hand injury is difficult to restore, which leads to high disability rates. The patients' daily life and work ability are seriously affected. With the aging of the society, the number of stroke patients with hemiplegia is gradually increasing. The research and application of the robot with the combination of robot and assistive rehabilitation therapy have come into being. Hand function rehabilitation robot has more practical value. It can simulate the human hand’s movements to realize the rehabilitation training of human hands. Objective: To give a general summary of recent hand function rehabilitation robot, and a presentation of their respective characteristics including drive type and rehabilitation training mode. Methods: This paper summarizes various patents and research developments about hand function rehabilitation robot. From the aspects of structural characteristics, drive type and rehabilitation training mode and applications situation, the advantages and disadvantages of the typical hand function rehabilitation robots are represented. Results: Current and future development trends on the structural characteristics, drive type and rehabilitation training mode and applications situation of hand function rehabilitation robots are discussed to improve the humanization, marketization, modularization and intelligence of the hand function rehabilitation robot. Conclusion: Considerable attention has been paid onto the hand function rehabilitation robot. Hand function rehabilitation robot can effectively improve the hand function of patients' and the elderly's the actual quality of life and family well-being. Further improvements are needed in the aspects of hand biomechanics, neurophysiology, rehabilitation training mode, actuators and sensors, physical manmachine interaction and ergonomics of the hand function rehabilitation robot. More patents on hand function rehabilitation robot should be invented. Keywords: Bionic principle, drive type, hand function rehabilitation robot, hand rehabilitation training, motor, pneumatic artificial muscle, pneumatic cylinder, shape memory alloy.

The preference to receive chemotherapy and cancer-related outcomes in older adults with breast cancer CALGB 49907 (Alliance).

Chemotherapy preference refers to a patient's interest in receiving chemotherapy. This study examined whether chemotherapy preference was associated with toxicity, efficacy, quality of life (QoL), and functional outcomes during and after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer. This study is a secondary analysis of CALGB 49907, a randomized trial that compared standard adjuvant chemotherapy versus capecitabine in patients age 65 years or older with breast cancer. A subset of 145 patients completed a questionnaire to describe chemotherapy preference pre-treatment. The association of this pre-treatment preference with the patient's perception of self-health, predicted and actual QoL, patient- and professional-reported toxicity, mental health, self-rated function, and survival was studied during and after treatment. The median age of patients was 71 years and 47% had a high preference for chemotherapy. On baseline demographics, the low preference group had a higher proportion of white patients (95% vs. 78%, p = 0.004). Before treatment, low chemotherapy preference was associated with greater nausea/vomiting (p = 0.008). Mid-treatment, low preference was associated with lower QoL, worse social, emotional and physical function (all p ≤ 0.02) and worse nausea/vomiting, cancer symptoms and financial worries (all p < 0.05). The association noted mid-treatment, resolved after treatment completion except with financial worries which persisted at 24 months. Low preference was associated with higher rates of grade 3-5 adverse events (53% vs. 34%, p = 0.02) but was not associated with survival. Low chemotherapy preference prior to treatment initiation was associated with lower QoL, worse physical symptoms and self-rated function and more adverse events mid-treatment. There is no association of chemotherapy preference with survival.

P763 Quality of life in Paediatric inflammatory bowel disease Patient: How well do we understand patients?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disease which can negatively affect the quality of life (QOL) of the patient. Improving QOL is one of the important therapeutic targets of IBD, and in order to do so, it is essential to assess one. In this study, we compared the actual QOL of the patients with the QOL of the patients evaluated by their medical staffs or caregivers and estimated how well they know the patients. Sixty-two children and adolescent IBD patients followed at Severance Children’s Hospital were enrolled in this study. The patients themselves answered the questionnaire (IMPACT-III) at the hospital visit. On the same day, parents, physicians and IBD nurse conducted the same questionnaire for each patient. The actual total IMPACT-III score of the patients themselves and each subdomain scores were compared with the IMPACT-III scores conducted by guardians and medical staffs. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of total IMPACT-III score was the most relevant between father and patient (0.824, 95% confidence interval 0.495–0.938) and was higher in order of mother (0.689, 95% confidence interval 0.474–0.816), physician (0.625, 95% confidence interval 0.386–0.772), and nurse (0.499, 95% confidence interval 0.179–0.694). Among the subdomain scores, bowel symptom subdomain was the most relevant one between patent and others whereas “treatment and intervention” was the least relevant subdomain. Both parents and medical staffs assessed the patients’ QOL lower than the QOL assessed by patients themselves. The differences of IMPACT-III scores to patients were −10.09 ± 17.86 for physician, −9.87 ± 15.80 for mothers, −5.72 ± 17.04 for nurse and −3.81 ± 11.82 for fathers. The QOL of the patients estimated by the caregiver or the medical staffs showed a relatively high correlation with the QOL of the patients documented by patients themselves. However, both medical staffs and caregivers tend to underestimate the QOL of the patients.

Will Total Knee Replacement Ever Provide Normal Knee Function?

Abstract Knee osteoarthritis or gonarthrosis is considered the most common joint disease, affecting more than 70% of subjects aged over 65 years. Its occurrence is increasing with age and is more problematic with the current rise in the incidence of obesity. In severe and advanced cases, total knee arthroplasty is recommended as a gold standard therapy for pain relief, restoration of normal knee function, and quality of life improvement. There are numerous controversies whether total knee arthroplasty is able to reach and provide end-point outcomes and restore previous function of the knee joint. Studies suggest that the surgeons’ experience, type of prosthesis used, associated pathology, underlying pathologies, risk factors, continuous passive movement, and patient expectations about the surgery may influence the outcomes to a great extent. “Normal knee function” is a statement that is hardly defined in the current literature, as authors usually refer to subjective results when analyzing outcomes. Objective results may be more straightforward, but they do not always symbolize the actual state that the patient is reporting or the actual quality of life. Our objective was to analyze and present summaries of the current literature regarding normal knee function restoration after total knee replacement surgery. Our literature review results confirm the hypothesis that subjective and objective results are difficult to interpret and unravel. Complex future trials may bring supplementary and clearer conclusions regarding knee function and kinematics, clinical improvement, patient satisfaction, and quality of life.

Travel and quality of life

Recently, there has been increasing scholarly interest in the relationship between tourism and quality of life (QOL). While the concept of QOL is contestable, a number of studies have revealed that travel can increase an individual’s perceived and actual QOL. To date, the focus has been on vacation travel, highlighting that travel primarily for the purpose of rest or recreation, whether to a holiday destination or touring, is a component of many people’s perceived QOL, and in some cases is a critical component. However, these more expensive forms of vacation travel are less accessible to those classified as socio-economically disadvantaged. Many such individuals can and do visit friends and relatives (VFR), suggesting that VFR may be a critical means by which socio-economically disadvantaged people can travel for pleasure and thereby maintain or improve their QOL. The article suggests a number of potential strategies based on the 8 Ps of the marketing mix, and these in turn inform avenues for future research.