Components Of Health-related Quality Of Life Research Articles

Relationship Between Muscular Fitness And Health Related Quality Of Life In Professional Firefighters

High muscular fitness levels are needed to perform occupational tasks for a professional firefighter. Common occupational tasks include heavy equipment carrying, forced entry and securing. However, current evidence suggests fitness levels often decline over the course of a firefighter’s career, which in turn impacts occupational task performance capabilities. Additionally, work-related stress occurring during the careers of firefighters contributes to higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder compared to civilian counterparts. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) considers the elements that impact individual feelings of well-being and its perception may be influenced by components of physical and mental health. Currently, limited research exists describing the relationship between muscular fitness and HRQoL in professional firefighters. PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between muscular fitness and HRQoL in professional firefighters. METHODS: 35 firefighters (31 males, 4 females, 36 ± 7 years, 178 ± 8 cm, 88.5 ± 18 kg) participated in the study. Five muscular fitness assessments were performed: maximum vertical jump, 1-repetition maximum bench press, maximum repetitions of pull-ups, maximum repetitions of push-ups, and the wall sit and reach. HRQoL was measured using the Short-Form (SF) 36 Questionnaire. Physical and mental composite scores were computed for the SF 36. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were calculated for each variable. Pearson correlation tests were used to assess association between variables (p <0.05). RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between pull-ups and the mental component of HRQoL (r = -0.37; p < 0.05). No other statistically significant relationships were found. Mean pull-up and mental health composite scores were 7.1 ± 6.5 repetitions and 80.3 ± 10.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It was unexpected that none of the fitness assessments were found to have a significant relationship with the physical composite score. Furthermore, the finding that only a single component of muscular fitness had a significant relationship with mental health is a novel finding. Based on results, HRQoL of professional firefighters might be the product of numerous factors and deserves further study.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life in a working population in Singapore.

OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to evaluate the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among workers in Singapore.METHODSWe analysed data from a cross-sectional study of 464 participants from 4 companies in Singapore. Physical and mental components of HRQoL were assessed using the Short-Form 36 version 2.0 survey. A generalized linear model was used to determine factors associated with the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of HRQoL.RESULTSThe overall mean PCS and MCS scores were mean±standard deviation 51.6±6.7 and 50.2±7.7, respectively. The scores for subscales ranged from 62.7±14.7 for vitality to 83.5±20.0 for role limitation due to emotional problems. Ethnicity, overweight/obesity, and years working at the company were significantly associated with physical HRQoL, and age and stress at work were significantly associated with mental HRQoL. Moreover, sleep quality was significantly associated with both physical and mental HRQoL.CONCLUSIONSThese findings could help workplaces in planning strategies and initiatives for employees to maintain a worklife balance that encompasses their physical, emotional, and social well-being.

Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with health-related quality of life among young adult men

BackgroundDespite numerous studies providing evidence for positive effects of physical activity and physical fitness, evidence for association between physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young adults is limited. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness with HRQoL from the perspective of its physical and mental components among young adult Finnish males.MethodsThe sample consisted of 754 men, with the mean age of 26 years (SD 6.7 years), who participated in the military refresher training. HRQoL was measured using the Finnish RAND 36-item health survey. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by a bicycle ergometer test, and muscular fitness by various tests measuring maximal strength and muscular endurance. Logistic regression modelling was used to compare low, moderate and high physical and mental component of HRQoL scores to the respective levels of muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness.ResultsThe findings of the adjusted (age, educational level, marital status, employment status, smoking, use of alcohol and BMI) analysis showed that cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are positively associated with both physical and mental components of HRQoL. In terms of the physical component of HRQoL, even a moderate fitness level was positively associated with better HRQoL. In terms of the mental component of HRQoL, the impact was seen only in the group with the highest fitness level.ConclusionsThe findings suggest a positive contribution of physical fitness to mental health and highlight the importance of both muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness in the promotion of HRQoL. Even lighter forms of physical activity that result in moderate physical fitness could contribute to the physical component of HRQoL. In terms of the mental component of HRQoL, higher levels of physical fitness may be needed to gain higher levels of HRQoL among young males.

The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Saliva C-Reactive Protein and Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm in Latina Breast Cancer Survivors and Their Informal Caregivers: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: To date, no study has explored associations between objective stress-related biomarkers (i.e., inflammatory markers, diurnal rhythm of cortisol) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Latina breast cancer survivors and their informal caregivers (i.e., family, friends). Method: This cross-sectional feasibility study assessed saliva C-reactive protein, saliva diurnal cortisol rhythm (cortisol slope), and self-reported HRQOL (psychological, physical, and social domains) in 22 Latina survivor-caregiver dyads. Feasibility was defined as ≥85% samples collected over 2 days (on waking, in afternoon, and in evening). Associations between biomarkers and HRQOL were examined with correlational analyses. Results: Collection of saliva was feasible. Strongest associations were observed between survivor evening cortisol (as well as cortisol slope) and fatigue, a component of physical HRQOL. Discussion: Associations presented may help promote investigations of mechanisms linking stress-related biomarkers and HRQOL in Latina breast cancer survivor-caregiver dyads, which will facilitate development of culturally congruent interventions for this underserved group.

Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life in People Living With Partial Foot or Transtibial Amputation

ObjectivesTo determine which demographic, amputation, and health-related factors were associated with health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in people living with partial foot amputation (PFA) or transtibial amputation (TTA). DesignCross-sectional survey. SettingCommunity. ParticipantsAdults (N=123) with unilateral PFA (n=42) or TTA (n=81). InterventionNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasureMedical Outcome Short Form (SF-36) version 2. ResultsVariation in the SF-36 Physical or Mental Component Summary scores were associated with complex interactions between factors, including: time since amputation, fatigue, anxiety, depression, pain interference, and physical function. Level of amputation (ie, PFA or TTA) did not explain a significant part of the variation in either the SF-36 Physical or Mental Component Summary scores. ConclusionsGiven the complex interactions between factors associated with the physical and mental health components of HR-QoL, there are opportunities to consider the long-term holistic care required by people living in the community with PFA or TTA.

Household Food Insecurity and Health-related Quality of Life in an Urban Adult Population in Iran

Background: The relationship between food insecurity and mental and physical components of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been less addressed by healthcare professionals. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between household food insecurity and mental and physical components of HRQOL in a large sample of urban people and to determine whether household food insecurity has a negative effect on mental and physical components of HRQOL. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted across twenty-two districts of Tehran (capital of Iran) during 2011. The participants were selected through multistage cluster random sampling. Two questionnaires were used to measure household food insecurity and HRQOL in the study population, while descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to test the relationships between these two parameters. Results: The mean age of the study population was 44.5 ± 15.5 years and most were female (64.8%). The results of this study indicated an independent relationship between household food insecurity and different subscales of HRQOL (P&lt;0.001). Household food insecurity had a significant negative relationship with physical (β= -5.93; P&lt;0.001) and mental (β= -6.54; P&lt;0.001) summary scores of HRQOL. Likewise, average scores on all subscales of HRQOL according to household food security status were significantly different (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Food insecurity was associated with mental and physical components of HRQOL among urban participants and can be considered as a part of comprehensive interventions that target to improve general health.

Educational or behavioural interventions for symptoms and health-related quality of life in adults receiving haemodialysis: A systematic review.

People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) suffer from multiple symptoms, which have a negative impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Educational and behavioural interventions are being developed for this population; however, the effect of these interventions is unclear. To evaluate the effectiveness of educational or behavioural interventions compared with standard care or alternative strategies on reducing symptoms and improving HRQoL in adults with ESKD receiving haemodialysis (HD). An effectiveness systematic review using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) procedures was conducted on experimental studies [randomised controlled trials (RCTs), pseudo-RCTs and quasi-experimental designs] published in English between January 2009 and July 2019. Studies were retrieved from CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial) and JBI databases. Effect size at 95% confidence interval was calculated where possible. Eighteen studies involving 791 participants were included in this review. All studies involved behavioural interventions with the majority of studies (n = 11) targeting psychological symptoms. Interventions were categorised as either active or passive. Active interventions seemed to improve some physical symptoms, although there was very little evidence of improvements to HRQoL. Passive interventions tended to have a large effect on psychological symptoms and the mental health components of HRQoL. Due to great heterogeneity between studies, meta-analyses could not be conducted further limiting the evidence to inform practice. In addition, further research on educational interventions to teach self-management strategies for symptom management and to improve HRQoL in people with ESKD receiving HD are needed.

The paradox of aging and health-related quality of life in Asian Chinese: results from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan

BackgroundDeclines in health, physical, cognitive, and mental function with age suggest a lower level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in late life; however, previous studies found that the associations were weak and varied, depending on the study designs and cohort characteristics.MethodsThe present study examined the paradox of aging in an East Asian context by regressing the age patterns of objective health indicators (physical, cognitive, and mental function), and subjective HRQoL (12-item Short Form, SF-12), on the independent and interactive effects of age and physical function in a cohort study of 5022 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older in Taiwan.ResultsAge patterns differed across measures. The SF-12 mental health score (MCS) showed a slight positive association with age and this effect remained stable after controlling for various age-related covariates. The SF-12 physical health score (PCS), in turn, was negatively associated with age. Age differences in PCS were fully explained by age decrements in objective physical health. However, consistent with the so-called paradox of aging, the association between objective and subjective physical health weakened with age.ConclusionThese findings add to prior evidence indicating that — in spite of objective health decrements — subjective HRQoL is maintained in later life among Asian Chinese. Also, these paradoxical patterns appear to vary for mental and physical components of HRQoL, and future research is needed to explore the underlying mechanism.Trial registrationHealthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on January 24, 2016 with trial registration number NCT02677831.

Pain catastrophizing mediates the negative influence of pain and trait-anxiety on health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia.

Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) usually display a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This decrease in HRQoL is related to clinical pain, anxiety, and depression. This cross-sectional study analyzes the mediating role of pain-coping strategies (especially catastrophizing) in the negative relationships of pain, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in FMS. One hundred and thirteen women with FMS and 63 healthy women were assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Participants completed self-report questionnaires to evaluate clinical pain, anxiety, depression, and pain-coping strategies. Pain catastrophizing was inversely associated with the physical function, general health perception, vitality, emotional role, mental health, the physical and mental general components, and the global index of HRQoL, with percentages of variance explained ranging between 9 and 18%. Cognitive distraction showed a positive association with the physical function, general health perception, vitality, emotional role, mental health, physical component, and global index of HRQoL, with percentages of variance explained ranging between 4 and 7%. Mediation analysis showed that catastrophizing mediates the negative influence of clinical pain and trait-anxiety on the physical function, general health perception, vitality, mental health, and global index of HRQoL. No mediating effect of pain catastrophizing on the relation between depression and HRQoL was observed. Patients with FMS exhibited markedly lower HRQoL than healthy individuals. While pain catastrophizing was inversely related to several domains of HRQL, associations were positive for cognitive distraction. Catastrophizing mediates the negative influence of clinical pain and trait-anxiety on HRQoL. Therefore, cognitive behavioral treatments focused on adaptive management and control of catastrophizing and negative emotional states may be helpful.

Occupational Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Nursing Professionals: A Multi-Centre Study.

Background: Nursing professionals are exposed to stressful situations arising from the work context that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to analyse the relationship between sociodemographic and work-related variables regarding HRQoL in nursing professionals. Methods: A multi-centre, cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The participants consisted 1521 nurses working in healthcare centres, in both primary care and hospital care, in the eight provinces of the Andalusian Public Health System (APHS), Spain. Sociodemographic and work-related variables were analysed: Compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout were measured using the professional quality of life questionnaire (ProQOL), and HRQoL was measured using the SF-12 health questionnaire. Results: Compassion fatigue, burnou, and, to a lesser extent, compassion satisfaction significantly influence the physical and mental components of HRQoL. The simple regression analysis showed that burnout and compassion fatigue were significantly associated with the mental component of HRQoL. Gender influenced the mental component of HRQoL. The rest of the sociodemographic and work-related variables were not significantly related to HRQoL. Conclusion: Work-related stress and repeated contact with situations of suffering influence HRQoL. Health systems must implement programmes to increase the emotional well-being of workers.

Depression and trait-anxiety mediate the influence of clinical pain on health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia

BackgroundFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition associated with a substantial decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study investigated the relationships of HRQoL with clinical parameters of FMS (pain, insomnia and fatigue) and affective variables (depression and anxiety). MethodsWomen with FMS (n=145) and healthy women (n=94) completed the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate HRQoL, and self-report questionnaires pertaining to clinical pain, symptoms of anxiety and depression, fatigue and insomnia. Patterns of associations were assessed by correlation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analyses. ResultsFMS patients showed lower scores on all SF-36 scales than healthy individuals. Clinical and emotional factors were inversely associated with SF-36 scores. Although depression was the strongest predictor of global HRQoL (explaining 36% of its variance), clinical pain and fatigue were the main predictors of physical components of HRQoL; depression and trait-anxiety were the main predictors of mental HRQoL components. Results of mediation analysis showed that depression, trait-anxiety and fatigue mediated the effect of clinical pain on HRQoL. Additionally, depression, trait-anxiety and fatigue mutually influenced each other, increasing their negative effects on the different areas of HRQoL. LimitationsAmong all emotional factors, only anxiety and depression were considered. ConclusionsOur results suggest that FMS pain and related functional disability may increase depression and anxiety, in turn aggravating the primary symptoms of FMS and indirectly increasing the negative influence of pain on HRQoL. These results showed the need to evaluate and treat negative affective states in FMS.

Item generation for a proxy health related quality of life measure in very young children

Background and aimsVery young children have a relatively high prevalence of morbidity and mortality. Health care and supportive technology has improved but may require difficult choices and decisions regarding the allocation of these resources in this age group. Cost-effective analysis (CEA) can inform these decisions and thus measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is becoming increasingly important. However, the components of HRQoL are likely to be specific to infants and young children. This study aimed to develop a bank of items to inform the possible development of a new proxy report instrument.MethodsA review of the literature was done to define the concepts, generate items and identify measures that might be an appropriate starting point of reference. The items generated from the cognitive interviews and systematic review were subsequently pruned by experts in the field of HRQoL and paediatrics over two rounds of a Delphi study.ResultsBased on the input from the different sources, the greatest need for a new HRQoL measure was in the 0–3-year age group. The item pool identified from the literature consisted of 36 items which was increased to 53 items after the cognitive interviews. The ranking of items from the first round of the Delphi study pruned this pool to 28 items for consideration. The experts further reduced this pool to 15 items for consideration in the second round. The experts also recommended that items could be merged due to their similar nature or construct. This process allowed for further reduction of items to 11 items which showed content validity and no redundancy.ConclusionThe need for an instrument to measure appropriate aspects of HRQoL in infants and young children became apparent as items included in existing measures did not cover the required spectrum. The identification of the final items was based on a sound conceptual model, acceptability to stakeholders and consideration of the observability of the item selected. The pruned item bank of 11 items needs to be subject to further testing with the target population to ensure validity and reliability before a new measure can be developed.

Effectiveness of Enhanced External Counterpulsation Treatment on Symptom Burden, Medication Profile, Physical Capacity, Cardiac Anxiety, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Refractory Angina Pectoris.

Patients with refractory angina pectoris experience recurrent symptoms that limit their functional capacity, including psychological distress and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), despite optimized medical therapy. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an evidence-based alternative noninvasive treatment. Although physical well-being and mental well-being are equally important components of health, few studies have investigated the psychological effects of EECP in patients with refractory angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of EECP treatment in patients with refractory angina pectoris regarding medication profile, physical capacity, cardiac anxiety, and HRQoL. This quasi-experimental study with 1-group pretest-posttest design includes a 6-month follow-up of 50 patients (men, n = 37; mean age, 65.8 years) who had undergone 1 EECP course. The following pretreatment and posttreatment data were collected: medication use, 6-minute walk test results, functional class according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and self-reported (ie, questionnaire data) cardiac anxiety and HRQoL. In addition, the questionnaires were also completed at a 6-month follow-up. After EECP treatment, patients used significantly less nitrates (P < .001), walking distance increased on average by 46 m (P < .001), and Canadian Cardiovascular Society class improved (P < .001). In addition, all but 1 subscale of cardiac anxiety and all HRQoL components improved significantly (P < .05). The positive effects for cardiac anxiety and HRQoL were maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Enhanced external counterpulsation treatment resulted in reduced symptom burden, improved physical capacity, and less cardiac anxiety, leading to increased physical activity and enhanced life satisfaction for patients with refractory angina pectoris. Enhanced external counterpulsation treatment should be considered to improve the life situation for these patients.

Subcapsular orchiectomy versus total orchiectomy and LHRH analogue in the treatment of hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer: a different perspective in evaluation of the psychosocial effects.

We aimed to compare total orchiectomy, subcapsular orchiectomy, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue treatment in patients with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer in terms of efficacy of androgen deprivation treatment (ADT), patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), development of phantom testis syndrome (PTS), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among 272 patients treated between July 2015 and January 2019, 189 patients were enrolled in this prospective, cohort study and the patients were divided into three groups: group I, bilateral total orchiectomy (n 66); group II, bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy (n 63); and group III, LHRH analogue treatment (n 60). The adequacy of ADT was routinely monitored every 3months and clinical parameters were evaluated. After 6 to 36months following ADT, questionnaires were used to evaluate PTS, PTSD, and HRQoL during outpatient visits. The patient satisfaction was questioned as yes/no. Adequate castration was provided with all three treatments, while the presence and frequency of PTS and severity of PTSD were lower, and patient satisfaction related to ADT and all components of HRQoL were better in patients undergoing subcapsular orchiectomy than those undergoing total orchiectomy. All findings except for PTS were similar in patients undergoing subcapsular orchiectomy and LHRH analogue treatment. In analysis of all patients, total incidence of PTS was 43.4% and PTSD was reported to be 48.7%. A strong relationship was found between PTSD and phantom testis pain (r 0.621, p < 0.001). Subcapsular orchiectomy has less psychosocial side effects than total orchiectomy and is similar to LHRH analogue treatment. It can be a reliable, cheaper, and fast-acting alternative to LHRH analogue treatment.

A conceptual framework of patient-reported outcomes in people with venous leg ulcers.

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are a common chronic often undertreated condition, which affects individual's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Numerous patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been validated to capture HRQoL in patients with VLUs. However, available instruments contain many items, are hard to use in clinical practice, and present with weak responsiveness. This study aims to determine clinical utility of an existing VLU-QoL instrument and to develop a comprehensive PROs assessment framework to guide clinical practice treatment in people with VLUs in Australia. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with VLU patients (N = 13) and their managing clinicians (N = 6) in Victoria, Australia. Interview topics covered content and face validity, appropriateness, and acceptability of the VLU-QoL instrument to determine suitable and appropriate for use in clinical practice. Clinicians and patients agreed that a VLU-QoL instrument was needed in clinical practice. Both clinicians and patients agreed it would be appropriate to answer PROMs questions prior to consultation with clinicians every 3-6 months. However, patients considered that some of the questions are ambiguous and too technical. Patients reported that it would be useful to include additional items relating to daily wound care, compression bandaging, and dressings. Clinicians reported that the VLU-QoL instrument was too long and required restructuring to facilitate utility in practice. A conceptual framework for HRQoL in VLUs included traditional HRQoL components and VLU-specific issues. Overall, the VLU-QoL was well accepted, although changes to make it more concise, comprehensive, and to clearly reflect consumers' perspectives were lacking. The proposed conceptual framework will inform the development of a new PROM for use by clinicians and patients in clinical settings.

Compliance, adherence and effectiveness of a community-based pre-operative exercise programme: a pilot study

BackgroundPre-operative exercise training improves HR components of fitness and HRQoL following hospital-based programmes.ObjectiveTo assess compliance and adherence of a pragmatic community-based preoperative exercise programme and its effect on health-related (HR) components of fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).MethodsThirty-two surgical oncological participants (15 prostate cancer and 17 colorectal cancer (CRC)) were recruited and assessed to measure HR components of fitness (strength and functional exercise capacity) and HRQoL. An exercise programme was prescribed in the time available prior to surgery with repeat assessments pre-operatively.ResultsTwenty-four participants (14 prostate cancer and 10 CRC) completed the full study (75% compliance). Exercise training was delivered over a median interquartile range (IQR) of 4 (3-4) weeks and 2 (1–3) weeks for the prostate cancer and CRC participants, with > 80% adherence. From baseline to post-exercise intervention, there were significant improvements in lower body strength in the prostate cancer group (p = 0.045), the CRC group (p = 0.001), and in both groups overall (p = .001). Additionally, there were statistically significant improvements in HRQoL: global health status for CRC group (p = 0.025) and for both groups overall (p = 0.023); emotional health subscale for the prostate cancer group (p = 0.048) and for both groups overall (p = 0.027); nausea/vomiting/pain subscale for the CRC group (p = 0.005) and for both groups overall (p = 0.030); and for health scale status for the prostate cancer group (p = 0.019) and for both groups overall (p = 0.006).ConclusionThis community-based pre-operative exercise programme showed acceptable compliance and adherence rates, and significantly increased upper and lower body strength and HRQoL. Pre-operative exercise training should be considered as early as possible in the surgical-oncology pathway and respected within patient scheduling.

Health-related quality of life of children and their parents 6\xa0months after children\u2019s critical illness

PurposeThis study aimed to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and their parents, 6 months after the child’s admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Associations between parents’ reports regarding HRQoL of their child and of themselves were investigated, as well as associations between children’s baseline variables and their parent-reported HRQoL outcomes.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected in a group of children who participated in the PEPaNIC trial. Six months after discharge from the PICU, parents of critically ill children completed the Infant–Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL, for age 0–3 years) or the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF50, for age 4–18 years), which are parallel questionnaires. Parents completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) regarding their own HRQoL. Results were compared with normative data.ResultsAt 6 months’ follow-up, 86 children of the 1343 (6%) had died which resulted in 1257 eligible children. Parents of 576 surviving children (46%) completed the questionnaires. Children of responding parents had less often an acute reason for admission and differed in diagnosis compared with children of non-responders. PICU children scored lower on most ITQOL (n = 390) scales and CHQ-PF50 (n = 186) scales compared with normative data. Parents reported (n = 570) higher scores on the physical (p < 0.001) and lower scores on the mental SF-12 scale (p < 0.001) compared with normative data. Parents̕ mental HRQoL correlated with HRQoL they reported for their child (Pearson Correlations range 0.25–0.57, p < 0.001–0.002). Shorter length of stay, lower risk of mortality, younger age, and cardiac diagnosis were associated with higher parent-reported HRQoL outcomes for the child.ConclusionsSix months after PICU discharge, critically ill children have lower HRQoL compared with normative data. The mental component of HRQoL is impaired in parents and is associated with lower overall parent-reported HRQoL of their child.

Pain appraisal and quality of life in 108 outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Individual differences in emotional functioning, pain appraisal processing, and perceived social support may play a relevant role in the subjective experience of pain. Due to the paucity of data regarding individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the present study aimed to examine pain intensity, emotional functioning (psychological distress and alexithymia), pain appraisal (pain beliefs, pain catastrophizing, and pain-related coping strategies) and social support, and their relationships with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with RA. Data were collected from 108 female patients diagnosed with RA. Clinically relevant levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms assessed by the HADS subscales were present in 34% and 41% of the patients, respectively, and about 24% of them exhibited the presence of alexithymia. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that pain intensity, alexithymia, the maladaptive beliefs regarding the stability of pain and the coping strategy of guarding explained 54% of the variance in the physical component of HRQoL (p<0.001). Depression subscale of the HADS, alexithymia, the coping strategy of resting, and the rumination factor of pain catastrophizing significantly explained 40% of the variance in the mental component of HRQoL (p<0.001). The present findings provide evidence regarding the importance of emotional functioning and pain appraisal in the negative impact of RA on patients' quality of life. These findings provide additional evidence for the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain, further supporting the complex interaction between emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes in patients with chronic pain.

Physical activity and health-related quality of life in former elite and recreational cricketers from the UK with upper extremity or lower extremity persistent joint pain: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in former elite and recreational cricketers with upper extremity (UE), lower extremity (LE) or no joint pain.Study...

Sense of coherence and health-related quality of life in patients with neurotoxicity after cancer chemotherapy: Assessment from a real-time mobile phone-based system.

In the present study, we aimed to assess sense of coherence (SOC) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during and after adjuvant chemotherapy by mobile phone-based reporting in patients with colorectal cancer experiencing neurotoxicity. In this prospective descriptive cohort study, a mobile phone-based system was used to receive a series of real-time longitudinal patient-reported assessments of SOC (13-item), HRQOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) 27-item), and neurotoxicity (OANQ 29-item) from 43 patients with colorectal cancer after being treated with chemotherapy including oxaliplatin. Measurements were conducted during the whole treatment period (mean 5cycles) and up to 12months after completing chemotherapy. In total, 817 questionnaire responses (226 SOC, 221 FACT-G, 370 OANQ) answered during and after chemotherapy treatment were available for analysis. Even though all patients experienced neurotoxicity during the treatment period, HRQOL was stable over time. Over time, the ratings of physical wellbeing tended to increase, while the subscale of social wellbeing tended to decrease. Overall SOC, including the three components comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness was stable during the entire study period. No internal data was missing due to the mobile phone-based system. All patients had neurotoxicity during the treatment period that seemed to affect the social wellbeing component of HRQOL, but SOC seemed unaffected. Real-time patient-reported assessment using mobile phone technology could be valuable in the clinical setting to provide continuous individualised monitoring to help identify patients who need further evaluation to maintain or improve their psychosocial health.