Degree Of Quality Of Life Research Articles

Determinants of Quality of Life (QoL) in Female Caregivers in Elderly Care Facilities in Korea.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of general characteristics, fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress and interpersonal relationships on the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers in nursing hospitals and use them as basic data for intervention programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers. The participants in the study were 137 caregivers, aged 52-76, who were actively working in nursing hospitals. Data were collected from caregivers by visiting 9 hospitals in 6 cities, with a questionnaire of fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress, interpersonal relationship, quality of life. Age, marriage, marital satisfaction, education, education experience of QoL, monthly income, perceived economic status, hobby or leisure activity, and number of disease showed differences in the degree of QoL at a statistically significant level. In stage 1, economic status (β = -0.18, p = 0.033) and hobby or leisure activity (β = 0.19, p = 0.025) were influencing factors (F = 4.58, p < 0.001). In stage 2, monthly income (β = -0.19, p = 0.034) and perceived economic status (β = -0.18, p = 0.035) were influencing factors. In stage 3, age (β = -2.80, p = 0.006), perceived economic status (β = -2.41, p = 0.017), self-efficacy (β = 3.19, p = 0.002) and interpersonal relationship (β = 7.12, p < 0.001) were influencing factors which showed 61.5% explanatory power (F = 12.88, p < 0.001). Since the subject's fatigue, depression, and stress did not affect the quality of life, further research is needed. In order to improve the quality of life of caregivers, it would be necessary to develop interventions for raising their self-efficacy and interpersonal relationship by considering their degree of economic status, hobby or leisure activity, monthly income, and age.

Quality of Life in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from a range of physical, psychological, and social problems. The disease affects the quality of life (QOL) of the affected person. Several factors contribute to QOL, and these factors should be examined to develop appropriate strategies. This study aimed to determine the factors related to QOL in patients with PD. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using a tool with strong validity and reliability (39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39)) to assess the quality of life. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, and non-parametric chi-square tests were applied to evaluate the relationship between QOL and the variables. Frequent hospital admissions, level of education, and marital status were among the factors that affected QOL. The ability to perform Ramadan fasting correlated with the degree of QOL. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected the quality of life due to changes in access to medical care and medications. To improve QOL in patients with PD, a comprehensive approach is required in many healthcare domains that includes physiotherapy together with the conventional pharmacotherapy, other treatments, and psychological support.

Quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) and aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), which have different pathogenic mechanisms, both negatively affect patients during their lifetime. We aimed to analyze and compare the quality of life (QoL) of patients with MS and NMOSD, its longitudinal course, and associated factors between the two diseases. MethodsBetween June 2018 and April 2020, patients with MS and NMOSD who visited a tertiary hospital were prospectively enrolled. The EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) utility index, of which low values represent poor QoL, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were collected at enrollment and at follow-up with a 6–12-month interval. At baseline, the degree of QoL and its determinants were analyzed and compared between the MS and NMOSD groups. We also analyzed the longitudinal alteration of the EQ-5D utility indices over time and the factors associated with the follow-up QoL. ResultsDuring the study period, 171 patients (MS, 120; NMOSD, 51) were included. The median age was 46 years, and median EDSS score and follow-up duration were 2.5 and 8 months, respectively. At baseline, the EQ-5D utility indices were low and comparable between the MS and NMOSD groups (median: 0.86 vs. 0.82, p = 0.823). A higher HADS total score (more severe anxiety/depression symptoms) showed an independent and significant association with the baseline EQ-5D utility index in both disease groups. Longitudinally, the EQ-5D utility indices remained low. Although they did not significantly change over time at a group level, more than 50% of patients showed a longitudinal change in their EQ-5D indices in both disease groups. Of note, a higher HADS total score at enrollment was an independent predictor for poor QoL at follow-up in both disease groups. ConclusionsThe QoL was similarly impaired between patients with MS and those with NMOSD and remained low during the follow-up period. A higher total scale of HADS was an independent risk factor for a lower QoL at baseline and at follow-up in both disease conditions, suggesting that clinicians should pay more attention to anxiety and depression in patients with MS and those with NMOSD in the long term.

Burden of Illness: A Systematic Review of Depression in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Depression has been reported in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), but its prevalence varies across studies, and uncertainty remains regarding the association with baseline disease severity and treatment outcomes. To systematically assess the prevalence of depression in CRS and to review its relationship to baseline disease severity and outcomes after treatment. A systematic review of the prevalence of possible depression was performed by using the available methods to diagnose depression, and the results were pooled. Studies that examined the relationship of depression on baseline disease severity and treatment outcomes were organized and reported individually. Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria for prevalence analysis. The prevalence of possible or likely depression in patients with CRS ranged from 11.0 to 40.0%, depending on the method of diagnosis and sensitivity of various depression instruments. Positive depression screening was consistently associated with worse CRS-specific quality of life (QOL), medication usage, and health care utilization, but there were no reliable CRS-specific factors to predict the presence of depression. Patients with possible depression who underwent medical or surgical treatment for CRS tended to have improvements in CRS-specific QOL but did not achieve the same degree of QOL as patients who were not depressed. Depression-specific QOL seemed to improve after treatment for CRS. Positive depression screening was common in patients with CRS and had a negative association on the entire spectrum of QOL, health care utilization, and productivity. CRS-specific treatments were still beneficial in patients who seemed to be depressed and improved both depression-specific and CRS-specific QOL.

대학생의 신체활동량, 건강상태 및 삶의 질과의 관계

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between physical activity, health status, and quality of life (QOL) of University students. Methods: The research design was based on a descriptive research design model. This study sample consisted of 183 K University students in D city. Data was collected from December 2012 to January 2013 and analyzed with descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test, and Pearson's correlation analysis) using SPSS 19.0. Subjects completed questionnaires on their demographics, physical activity, health status, and QOL. Results: The overall physical activity of participants was <TEX>$2529.40{\pm}5057.896$</TEX> min/week on average. The average health status was <TEX>$28.66{\pm}6.3$</TEX> and the average physical health and mental health were <TEX>$16.45{\pm}3.955$</TEX> and <TEX>$12.31{\pm}3.446$</TEX>, respectively. The overall degree of QOL was <TEX>$3.429{\pm}0.379$</TEX>. A positive relationship existed between moderate and vigorous activity and health status. In addition, QOL positively correlated with physical health (under health status). However, physical activity was not related with both mental health (under health status) and QOL. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, health educational programs are needed to promote sufficient physical activity in university students.

Usefulness of nitrendipine and its effects on quality of life and brain blood flow in elderly hypertensive patients

There are many reports on the efficacy of Ca-antagonists for treatment of elderly essential hypertension. In particular, many studies have noted the beneficial effects of antihypertensive therapy on the quality of life (QOL). Nevertheless, there are no reports on antihypertensive therapy regarding the relationship between brain blood flow (BBF) and QOL. Therefore, we examined the efficacy of nitrendipine, a Ca-antagonist, on the brain blood flow and QOL, and its side effects in elderly essential hypertensive patients. The subjects were 17 (males: 4, females: 13) patients with untreated hypertension of WHO stage I or II, aged 70 years or older. The mean dose of nitrendipine was 9.4 +/- 0.4 mg daily. Before and 6 months after treatment, we examined blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), echocardiography (left ventricular mass index [LVMI], % fractional shortening [% FS]), plasma noradrenaline (Nad), plasma renin activity (PRA), BBF using the IMP-ARG method with BBF scintigraphy, and QOL was examined with a questionnaire. Two patients were excluded from this study because 1 had no decrease in BP, and another was moved to a different hospital. BP significantly decreased from 178/93 to 137/77 mmHg, but HR was not changed after treatment. BBF significantly increased from 37.0 +/- 4.9 to 41.0 +/- 4.9 ml/dl/min, but % FS, Nad, and PRA did not significantly change. The degree of QOL was improved by 4.2 +/- 1.2 points and there was a significant positive correlation between the changes of BBF and of QOL (r = 0.66, p = 0.04). However, moderate pharmacotherapy for BP seems to be necessary because there were 2 patients whose BBF decreased accompanied by excessive drop in BP after treatment. In conclusion, it is possible to safely use nitrendipine for elderly essential hypertensive patients. Nitrendipine has beneficial effects on BBF, and it was suggested that the increase of BBF is one of the most important factors in improvement of QOL.

Social support exchange and quality of life among the Korean elderly.

This study examined the impact of providing and receiving support on the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with 714 rural community residents aged 60 and over in Korea. Subjects were asked a series of structured questions including age, sex, living arrangement, physical functions, and the frequency of providing and receiving support in their network (spouse, children, and friends). The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale was used to measure degree of QOL. Results indicated that respondents had family-centered support networks. We found a significant correlation between support and physical functions and, less strongly, between support and age. When physical function was controlled, ANOVAs (Analyses of Variance) showed that providing support to their children and friends was more strongly related to QOL score than receiving support from the in both males and females. Overall, the elderly who exchanged support frequently, both providing and receiving support, showed the highest QOL in most situations. Researchers and policy makers should explore the potential benefits of providing support as well as receiving support.

285 Quality of life (QOL) after conservative therapy for infiltrating bladder cancer: A preliminary report

<h3>Aim</h3> To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) after organ-sparing therapy for T2–T3 bladder cancer. <h3>Patients and methods</h3> We pointed out that the main QoL domains after bladder-sparing therapy are similar to these of patients (pts) affected by prostatic cancer. So we developed an autocompilative questionnaire proceeded in many domains from EORTC questionnaire for prostatic cancer QoL. We performed a cross-cultural adaptation process and validated the translation from the original language. The answers were weighted by a different numeric value and several summary scores reflecting the main QoL domains were obtained. The highest values showed a better QoL degree. We mailed this questionnaire to 50 pts treated in our institutions by radiotherapy (34 pts) or concomitant radiochemotherapy (16 pts). Until now 30 questionnaires returned; of these 24 are evaluable. All pts were free of local recurrence and not underwent salvage cystectomy. <h3>Results</h3> Most of the pts showed a good QoL, generally obtaining a high score in all domains. In a scale ranging from 1 to 4, 50% of the pta had a physical score≥3,83.3% a symptomatic score≥3, 57.1% a sexual score≥3,87.5% a general score≥3; in a scale ranging from 1 to 2, 70.8% pts had a psychological score≥1.5 and 100% a relational score≥1.5. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The organ-sparing therapy for bladder cancer allows a good QaL.