Improvements In Emotional Well-being Research Articles

Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğunda Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi: Bir Olgu Sunumu

Abstract This case study examines the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on a 25-year-old individual diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The patient experiences issues with self-esteem and interpersonal communication. During the CBT process, negative automatic thoughts were identified and replaced with functional alternatives. Therapeutic interventions and assigned tasks helped the patient identify and restructure cognitive distortions. The treatment process observed a decrease in anxiety levels and an overall improvement in emotional well-being. The effectiveness of CBT in treating GAD is emphasized as a method targeting the modification of cognitive processes. Research conducted across various age and demographic groups has shown CBT to be successful in reducing anxiety levels and improving psychological well-being. Future studies should aim to further examine the applicability and effectiveness of CBT. Specifically, research identifying anxiety level increases among GAD patients during pandemic periods would contribute to developing more effective intervention strategies. Additionally, increasing studies on the effects of CBT across different demographic groups would allow for the personalization of therapy methods. Keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy, generalized anxiety disorder, pathological anxiety, anxiety

High-precision neurofeedback-guided meditation training optimises real-world self-guided meditation practice for well-being.

Meditation can benefit well-being and mental health, but novices often struggle to effectively recognize and disengage from mental processes during meditation due to limited awareness, potentially diminishing meditation's benefits. We investigated whether personalised high-precision neurofeedback (NF) can improve disengagement from mental activity during meditation and enhance meditation's outcomes. In a single-blind, controlled, longitudinal paradigm, 40 novice meditators underwent two consecutive days of meditation training with intermittent visual feedback from either their own (N=20) or a matched participant's (N=20; control group) posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) activity measured using 7 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging. During training, the experimental group showed stronger functional decoupling of PCC from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, indicating better control over disengagement from mental processes during meditation. This led to greater improvements in emotional well-being and mindful awareness of mental processes during a week of real-world self-guided meditation. We provide compelling evidence supporting the utility of high-precision NF-guided meditation training to optimise real-world meditation practice for well-being.

Assessing the Impact of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) on Relationship Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Support Group Participation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background/Objectives: The Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) is a 6-month, home-based intervention aimed at enhancing mental health in men undergoing curative prostate cancer treatment. This exploratory secondary analysis evaluates PC-PEP's impact on relationship satisfaction, quality of life, and support group attendance among partnered participants. Methods: In a crossover randomized clinical trial ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03660085) of 128 men aged 50-82 scheduled for curative prostate cancer surgery or radiotherapy, 119 participants in relationships were included. Of these, 59 received the 6-month PC-PEP intervention, while 60 were randomized to a waitlist-control arm, receiving standard care for 6 months before starting PC-PEP. The intervention included daily emails with video instructions on mental and physical health, diet, social support, fitness, stress reduction, and intimacy. Outcomes were assessed using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P). Results: While relationship satisfaction remained stable, a significant improvement in emotional well-being was observed at 12 months in participants undergoing radiation therapy (p = 0.045). The PC-PEP intervention also led to significantly higher support group attendance at both 6 months (p = 0.001) and 12 months (p = 0.003), emphasizing its role in fostering social support and community engagement. Conclusions: The PC-PEP program effectively maintains relationship satisfaction and enhances emotional well-being, particularly in patients with fewer physical side effects. Its design promotes comprehensive care by integrating physical, psychological, and social support, making it a valuable resource for improving the quality of life in prostate cancer patients and potentially applicable to other cancer types.

Experiences of Second-Grade Primary School Children and Their Teachers in a Mind-Body Activity Program: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

This study explored the experiences of second-grade children and their teachers who participated in a mind-body program to understand its impact on their development. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Student data were collected through seven focus groups, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with tutors in December 2021. Data analysis was performed following COREQ guidelines. Three themes were generated: (1) competitiveness and restlessness in children: something needs to be done; (2) seeds sown and fruits harvested; and (3) it is necessary to advance from the occasional to the structural. Participants reported positive changes in areas of their development such as self-regulation, relaxation, attention capacity, and stress reduction. Improvements in interpersonal relationships and social skills were also observed. These improvements in emotional well-being and social skills highlight the importance of this type of intervention in the school environment.

A narrative review of community wellbeing programmes and the reported outcomes for young carers

Wellbeing programmes have the potential to support young carers in their formative years. However, there is a scarcity of research into wellbeing programmes for young carers and their associated outcomes. This review aims to identify targeted community programmes that support the mental health and social wellbeing of young carers and their outcomes through the academic literature. An initial search of databases retrieved 335 articles, with ten meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings were organised thematically according to the programme outcomes: improvement in emotional wellbeing and quality of life; the development of new skills; respite from caring; and social connectedness and peer support.

Precision nutrition impact on metabolic health and quality of life in aging population after a 3-month intervention: A randomized intervention

ObjectivesInnovative precision dietary procedures are required to promote healthy aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a personalised strategy based on the inclusion of individualised foods and digital tools on overall health status and quality of life within a follow-up of 3 months in older adults with overweight or obesity. Methods127 men and women aged between 50 and 80 years with overweight/obesity participated in the study—between January 2020 and September 2020 at the Center for Nutrition Research-University of Navarra and IMDEA-ALIMENTACIÓN—and were randomly assigned to a usual-care group (standard recommendations) or precision group (precision nutrition strategy based on the inclusion of individualised foods and a mobile application). Anthropometry, body fat percentage, biochemical parameters, diet, and quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. ResultsBoth strategies were found to improve overall metabolic health; however, the precision approach demonstrated significantly better outcomes. The precision strategy reduced body weight at 3 months (−4.3 kg; p < 0.001) with significant improvements in body fat percentage, blood pressure and general metabolic health (glycated haemoglobin; alanine aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase; hepatic steatosis index) in comparison with the standard recommendations. The precision approach significantly enhanced the quality of life (SF-36) of individuals, with additional improvements in emotional well-being (p = 0.024) and vitality (p = 0.008). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with a higher quality of life and vitality. ConclusionThese results support the benefit of precision nutrition approaches for promoting healthy aging and emotional well-being, enhancing the quality of life in aging populations, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality of life for older patients with metastatic cancer in Brazil: A telehealth-based geriatric assessment and supportive care intervention (GAIN-S).

1514 Background: Older adults with cancer often present unique geriatric and supportive care needs. We sought to evaluate the impact of a telehealth-based multimodal geriatric assessment (GA)-guided supportive care interventions (GAIN-S) program among older patients with metastatic cancer in a Brazilian cancer center. Methods: This is a randomized trial. Patients aged 65+ years with metastatic cancer, undergoing treatment, regardless of ECOG status, were enrolled. Following the baseline assessment, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive usual care or GAIN-S. The GAIN-S intervention provided remote, telehealth-based consultations with a nutritionist, psychologist, psychiatrist, and certified fitness trainer. At baseline and 3-months, patients were assessed for emotional symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), functional status (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), coping (BriefCope), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General). Independent t-tests and linear mixed model were used. Results: Out of 86 approached patients, 80 were enrolled (40 per arm), with 3 deceased during treatment (usual care: 2, GAIN-S: 1). Most patients were female (56%), with a median age of 73 years (range, 65-68). Most common cancers were genitourinary (28%) and breast (23%). At baseline, there were no differences in the outcome measures between arms. However, from baseline to 3-months, patients assigned to GAIN-S had improvements in emotional symptoms, functional status, and quality of life compared to usual care (Table). Additionally, those assigned to GAIN-S reported increased utilization of active coping, acceptance, and positive reframing at 3-months. Conclusions: GAIN-S demonstrated significant improvements in emotional well-being, functional status, and quality of life among older patients with metastatic cancer. These findings underscore the potential of such telehealth-driven approaches to enhance the supportive care experience in diverse healthcare settings. [Table: see text]

Overestimating the intensity of negative feelings in autobiographical memory: evidence from the 9/11 attack and COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT When recalling autobiographical events, people not only retrieve event details but also the feelings they experienced. The current study examined whether people are able to consistently recall the intensity of past feelings associated with two consequential and negatively valenced events, i.e. the 9/11 attack (N = 769) and the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 726). By comparing experienced and recalled intensities of negative feelings, we discovered that people systematically recall a higher intensity of negative feelings than initially reported – overestimating the intensity of past negative emotional experiences. The COVID-19 dataset also revealed that individuals who experienced greater improvement in emotional well-being displayed smaller biases in recalling their feelings. Across both datasets, the intensity of remembered feelings was correlated with initial feelings and current feelings, but the impact of the current feelings was stronger in the COVID-19 dataset than in the 9/11 dataset. Our results demonstrate that when recalling negative autobiographical events, people tend to overestimate the intensity of prior negative emotional experiences with their degree of bias influenced by current feelings and well-being.

Impact of Customized Content in 3D Virtual Reality Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar on Emotional Well-Being, Cognition, and Physiological Response

People in situations where physical activity is difficult face limitations in participating in exercise to maintain health. Participation in exercise is especially difficult when social non-face-to-face situations such as infectious diseases occur. This causes various social problems. Background: The study developed a 3D virtual reality (VR) Motionless Imagery Exercise through Avatar (MIEA), provided customized content such as companion avatars, and aimed to verify its effects. Methods: This study was conducted using a randomized block design experiment. The participants were 40 healthy adults (20 experiment and 20 control group) aged between 19 and 49 years. Both groups engaged in interventions three times per week for 20 min over six weeks. Data obtained from measurements of emotional well-being, cognition, and physiological responses before and after the experiment were analyzed. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in emotional well-being compared to the control group, particularly in trait anxiety, resilience, stress, and positive affect. The similar physiological responses observed in the experimental group resembled exercise-induced responses. Verbal memory and working memory in the experimental group improved more in the experimental group than the control group. Conclusions: The results showed the effectiveness of a 3D VR MIEA, indicating its positive impact on exercise outcomes. Furthermore, the provision of customized content including companion avatars was validated to enhance emotional well-being. This suggests that incorporating content-driven companion avatars in developing virtual reality exercise programs can evoke emotional effects.

Experimental program regulations emotional states students (formative experiment)

This article introduces an experimental program designed to regulate students’ emotional states and reduce exam stress. The program, involving 120 students from Bukhara State University, comprises the theoretical course “Psychology of Emotional States” and practical training sessions. It addresses psychological health, emotional intelligence, and self-regulation. The “Emotional Balance” program, with its focus on enhancing self-regulation and emotional intelligence, demonstrated significant improvements in emotional well-being and motivation while reducing exam-related anxiety and escapism. Students learned diagnostic and corrective techniques for emotional states and ways to prevent burnout. The use of visualization and group exercises improved their communication skills. The results emphasize the program’s effectiveness in reducing exam stress and enhancing the overall emotional state of students, underscoring the need for emotional support and motivational balance in education.

Enhancing hospice care with psychological support and a nomogram to predict delirium in patients with advanced solid tumors.

To assesses the impact of integrating hospice care with psychological interventions on patient well-being and to introduce a predictive nomogram model for delirium that incorporates clinical and psychosocial variables, thereby improving the accuracy in hospice care environments. Data from 381 patients treated from September 2018 to February 2023 were analyzed. The patients were divided into a control group (n=177, receiving standard care) and an experimental group (n=204, receiving combined hospice care and psychological interventions) according to the treatment modality. The duration of care extended until the patient's discharge from the hospital or death. The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in emotional well-being and a lower incidence of delirium compared to the control group. Specifically, emotional well-being assessments revealed marked improvements in the experimental group, as evidenced by lower scores on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) post-intervention. The nomogram model, developed using logistic regression based on clinical characteristics, effectively predicted the risk of delirium in patients with advanced cancer. Significant predictors in the model included ECOG score ≥3, Palliative Prognostic Index score ≥6, opioid usage, polypharmacy, infections, sleep disorders, organ failure, brain metastases, electrolyte imbalances, activity limitations, pre-care SAS score ≥60, pre-care SDS score ≥63, and pre-care KPS score ≥60. The model's predictive accuracy was validated, showing AUC values of 0.839 for the training cohort and 0.864 for the validation cohort, with calibration and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) confirming its clinical utility. Integrating hospice care with psychological interventions not only significantly enhanced the emotional well-being of advanced cancer patients but also reduced the actual incidence of delirium. This approach, offering a valuable Nomogram model for precise care planning and risk management, underscores the importance of integrated, personalized care strategies in advanced cancer management.

Effect of modifying agricultural product circulation on mood disorders among consumers

BackgroundMood disorders encompass a category of mental illnesses characterized by fluctuating emotional states, including periods of elevated and diminished emotions. These conditions have the potential to profoundly influence an individual’s behavior and cognitive functions. To effectively intervene in mood disorders, innovation is made in the circulation mode of agricultural products based on the patient’s lifestyle habits, and consumer mental changes are recorded, providing reference opinions for the treatment of mood disorders.Subjects and MethodsA cohort of 140 individuals, who were enthusiastic about agricultural products and exhibited symptoms of mood disorders, was recruited from the general population. All participants displayed clear indications of mood disorders. The circulation mode of agricultural products was reconfigured under the participants’ lifestyle habits. A comprehensive set of measures was implemented as part of the intervention. Over a span of 4 months, the mental symptoms of the 140 participants were meticulously documented. These records formed the basis for subsequent analysis. All collected data were subjected to rigorous statistical examination using SPSS23.0. To gauge changes in participants’ mental states, the Self-Rating Depression Scale was employed. This assessment tool was administered both before and after the intervention period.ResultsThe transformation of the agricultural product circulation mode led to significant improvements in emotional well-being and mental state among patients over the 4-month intervention period. The psychological impact varied based on the specific agricultural product transformation strategy employed. Nonetheless, all strategies demonstrated a capacity to alleviate negative emotions and foster overall patient well-being.ConclusionsAdapting the agricultural product circulation mode in line with individual patient characteristics emerges as a promising strategy for mitigating mental stress and enhancing the well-being of those affected by mood disorders. This innovative approach offers potential avenues for symptom relief and presents actionable recommendations for mood disorder treatment.

Growing old and being old: Emotional well-being across adulthood.

The present study examines change in reports of daily, weekly, and monthly psychological distress over 20 years, and of negative and positive affect over 10 years, using data from the Midlife in the United States study. The study includes three waves of data collection on adults ranging from 22 to 95 years old. Cross-sectional findings reveal that older age is related to lower levels of psychological distress and negative affect and to higher levels of positive affect across each successive age group. Yet, longitudinal findings vary across younger, middle-aged, and older adults. Psychological distress decreases over time among younger adults (although only until age 33 for weekly reports), remains stable in midlife, and is stable (monthly) or slightly increases (daily and weekly) among older adults. For negative affect, levels decrease over time for younger and middle-aged adults, and only increase for the oldest adults for daily and monthly affect. Positive affect is stable over time among younger adults, but decreases in midlife starting in the mid-fifties. In conclusion, overall patterns of findings suggest that being old (assessed cross-sectionally) is related to higher levels of emotional well-being. Growing old (assessed longitudinally) is related to improvements in emotional well-being across younger and early middle adulthood, which mirrors cross-sectional findings. There is relative stability in later midlife, however, and continued stability or slight declines across older age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

GERD - still current problem of society, diagnosis, practical methods of management and treatment

Introduction and purpose: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common digestive disease worldwide. About half of all adults will report symptoms of reflux at some point in their lives. The symptoms of the disease are non-specific, which is why doctors of many specializations face the problem both in doctor's offices and hospital rooms. GERD is a disorder with troublesome symptoms and complications resulting from the regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus, causing subjective symptoms and related complications, negatively affecting the quality of life. Symptoms negatively affect the quality of life of patients, lowering well-being, physical activity, and social functioning. Diagnosis is based in most cases on the observation of symptoms, which is why this paper presents the symptoms that should be taken into account when diagnosing patients. Therapeutic procedures, selection of the appropriate form of treatment: conservative, pharmacological and surgical, were discussed.Materials and methods: The review was based on the analysis of materials collected in the "Pubmed" database, books and other scientific articles.Summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is an important health problem because it is associated with impaired daily functioning and morbidity. Proper management of GERD symptoms can result in significant improvements in patients' well-being, including reduction in physical pain, increase in vitality, physical and social functioning, and improvement in emotional well-being. In some patients, only lifestyle modification and a change in habits are enough to reduce the occurrence of symptoms. First-line drugs are proton pump inhibitors. Endoscopic examination should be performed when pharmacological therapy is ineffective or in the event of alarm symptoms, i.e. dysphagia, weight loss, anemia, bleeding and recurrent vomiting. Surgical treatment is used as a last resort when pharmacological treatment fails.

Quality of life and clinical factors in women with endometriosis, the role of dienogest vs EE/dienogest over time: a single-center study

PurposeThe aims of this observational study were: to assess the relationship between psychological variables, pain, Duration Untreated Endometriosis (DUE) in a sample of women with Endometriosis; and to assess the effect of dienogest 2 mg/daily (DNG) and dienogest/ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg/daily (EE/DNG) on Symptoms, QoL, HRQoL, pain and sexual satisfaction, over time.Methods64 women constituted the study group; (56%) took DNG and (44%) took EE/DNG. VAS, SF-36, EHP-30 and ISS were used to assess endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, QoL, HRQoL and sexual satisfaction, respectively. The study included one follow-up at 18 months.ResultsAt T0, a longer period of DUE was related both to worst HRQoL and Physical QoL. At T1, a correlation was found between longer DUE and worst HRQoL. At T0, a negative correlation was found between VAS and PCS and between VAS and EHP-30. At T1, the same above correlation was found between VAS and PCS/MCS and VAS and EHP-30 scale. There was a correlation between ISS and VAS. ANOVA showed a reduction in dysmenorrhea, in general pain level and an improvement in emotional wellbeing, relationship with medical profession, and PCS over time, regardless to type of treatment. Moreover, a significant time × treatment group interaction for dysmenorrhea was found.ConclusionDUE and pain are important variables related to psychological aspects of women with endometriosis. Treatment with both DNG and EE/DNG may have positive effects on the QoL, HRQoL and symptoms. Moreover, DNG seems to have a greater effect than EE/DNG on dyspareunia reduction over time.

Moderators of the Effectiveness of UPcomplish on Office Workers’ Sedentary Behaviour, Quality of Life, and Psychosocial Determinants: A Stepped Wedge Design

BackgroundIn the earlier developed and evaluated 12-week UPcomplish intervention, the aim was to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) among office workers and increase their quality of life (QoL). In the current study, we explored moderators of effectiveness.MethodWe applied a stepped wedge design with five intervention groups starting with time lags of seven weeks (n = 142, 96 females). Participants wore the VitaBit to continuously measure SB and received surveys about QoL and psychosocial determinants at the beginning, middle, and end of the intervention. We regressed baseline participant characteristics and behaviours onto intra-individual improvements (centred around calendar week means) in determinants, SB, performance objectives, and QoL.ResultsThose scoring high in baseline intention, task performance, stress, vitality, and emotional well-being improved less in these variables. Baseline stress (β = − 0.05 [SE = 0.01; 95% CI = − 0.08, − 0.02; pcorrected = .02]) and emotional well-being (β = 0.02 [SE = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.03; pcorrected = .02]) were associated with improvement in contextual performance. Baseline attitude (β = − 12.92 [SE = 3.93; 95% CI = − 20.80, − 5.04; pcorrected = .02]) and perceived behavioural control (PBC; β = − 9.27 [SE = 3.04; 95% CI = − 15.37, − 3.16; pcorrected = .03]) were negatively associated with improvements in emotional well-being. Post hoc analyses with a sub-group scoring lower in determinants revealed that improvement in PBC was positively associated with SB registration.ConclusionParticipants scoring low in baseline determinants might profit from UPcomplish via an increase in PBC. In combination with changes within organizations (e.g. the implementation of standing desks), UPcomplish might potentially reduce SB.Trial RegistrationNL7503 — registered 1 February 2019.

NEW SPINS ON CLASSIC IDEAS ABOUT CONTEXT IN ADULT EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract Individuals often experience improvements in emotional well-being into old age. Understanding mechanisms contributing to these emotional outcomes in daily contexts can inform ways to support healthy aging. Development is embedded within various contexts that shape individuals’ experiences. Novel perspectives are emerging on how to conceptualize context and the way it can contribute to emotional development during the aging process. This symposium illustrates four innovative ways to consider contextual contributions to emotional well-being across adulthood. The first talk will use experience sampling to illustrate age differences in how daily situations contribute to emotion regulation related processes, showing that older adults can more easily distinguish between emotions when in familiar situations. The second talk will take a fresh perspective on psychosocial contexts by distinguishing between types of social interactions in couples, highlighting the important role of affection for well-being in adulthood. The third talk will introduce the idea that the body itself provides context for emotional processes, showcasing that the way this context affects emotional experience changes as individuals age. The fourth talk will center on how renewing our classical developmental models of context in modern ways can help to overcome shortcomings of previous research and provide insight into how engagement with environmental features contributes to well-being across the lifespan. In sum, this symposium features innovative perspectives on how context can be leveraged to gain a deeper understanding of psychosocial development into old adulthood and illustrates specific ways individuals can navigate their social world to preserve or improve mental health across adulthood.

Effect of a novel pilot support group on distress and quality of life in breast cancer patients in Nigeria.

To assess the effect of a new breast cancer support group (BCSG) on breast cancer patients' self-reported distress and quality of life. A single arm pre-post trial providing an eight session healthcare provider led BCSG. Primary outcome variables were distress and quality of life assessed using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT) and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast plus Arm Morbidity (FACT-B+4), respectively. Topics in each session addressed a wide range of issues some of which were pre-selected by the patients themselves. Paired sample t-test was used for data analysis on International Business Machine Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21. The participants (N=18) had a mean age of 51. Most had secondary school level education (54%), were traders (59%) and had stage 3 or 4 disease (67%). A larger proportion (78% or n=14) of the patients lived in rural areas, while 4 (22%) of the patients lived in Ibadan. Out of the 8 sessions, 12 (67%) of the participants attended 1-3 sessions while 6 (33%) attended 4-8 sessions. There were, significant improvements in emotional wellbeing (t=-4.253; p<0.05) and functional wellbeing (t=-2.191; p<0.05) on the FACT-B+4. There was a significant reduction in the DT score (t=2.345; p<0.05) but the number of items on the problem list were not significantly reduced (t=1.191; p>0.05). Majority (75%) of the patients rated the support group activities as satisfactory. These data show that the support group can benefit breast cancer patients in terms of reduced distress levels along with satisfaction and improvement in the functional and emotional wellbeing indices of quality of life.

FOOD ALLERGEN IMMUNOTHERAPY IS ASSOCIATED WITH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PATIENT/CAREGIVER-REPORTED WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL INCLUSION

<h3>Introduction</h3> 5-10% of children globally are affected by food allergies, and patients and caregivers suffer from high levels of emotional distress and anxiety. Immunotherapy is gaining recognition as a safe method to treat food allergy. Increased stress and anxiety levels are associated with lower quality of life (QOL), higher activity impairment, and higher suicidal ideation. Few studies have explored patient/caregiver reported outcomes from immunotherapy. <h3>Methods</h3> 61 patients/caregivers completed a survey measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures to assess perceived effects of immunotherapy treatment on general and emotional well-being and the ability to participate in activities of daily living. The survey was distributed through allergist offices and online support groups for patients/caregivers pursuing food allergen immunotherapy, and was open to patients who were either currently pursuing immunotherapy or who had done so previously. Procedures followed were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration as revised in 2013. <h3>Results</h3> 77% of patients/caregivers reported improvement in general state of well-being with immunotherapy treatment. 65.6% reported improvement in emotional well-being. 70.5% reported improvement in the ability to perform social activities. However, there was not a clear association of food allergen immunotherapy with the ability to participate in physical activities, with 70.5% of patients/caregivers reporting no change. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In this preliminary survey, food allergen immunotherapy treatment was associated with improvement in patient/caregiver-reported well-being and improved ability to participate in social activities. Given the importance of QOL indicators on the decision to pursue food allergen immunotherapy, these results will help to inform the shared decision-making process and set realistic expectations for outcomes.

Impact of a Virtual Wellness Program on Quality of Life Measures for Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were vulnerable to the effects of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As patients returned to in-person visits, providers reported seeing increased weakness, balance issues, falls, worsening pain, and spasticity. Social isolation also contributed to increased stress, depression, and anxiety. This study explored whether attending virtual wellness programs was associated with improvements in standard quality of life questionnaire scores for patients with MS. The purposive convenience sample consisted of 43 patients in the treatment group and 28 in the control group. Patients in the treatment group attended 2 monthly programs for 6 months and completed a demographic questionnaire, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Pain Effects Scale (PES). Patients requested additional topics, resulting in 5 additional programs. The control group consisted of patients who chose not to attend the programs but agreed to complete the questionnaires. In comparing questionnaire responses (6 months minus baseline) among the participants in the treatment group, an association was found between higher meeting attendance and improvements in emotional well-being (P = .038), pain on the PES (P = .011), mindfulness on the SF-36 pain scale (P = .0472), and exercise on the PES (P = .0115). The results of this study suggest that a virtual wellness program may provide beneficial emotional support, physical exercise, and health promotion activities resulting in improved quality of life in people with MS. In addition, mindfulness and exercise programs may be beneficial in pain management.