Lower Levels Of Quality Of Life Research Articles

Local government expenditure and Quality of Life in Finnish municipalities

This study investigates whether local government expenditure correlate with the Quality of Life (QoL) of the local population and whether high public expenditure are indicative of high or low QoL. Data, including information on public expenditure and objective QoL indicators, were gathered for Finnish municipalities from several existing databases and cover a period of 2015–2019. A composite indicator was constructed to measure municipal QoL performance. The results indicate that there is a clear correlation between public expenditure and QoL: the higher the public expenditure the lower the QoL of the local population. This is due to a greater demand for public goods in municipalities that have low QoL levels. Further, QoL and public expenditure levels are a fairly constant phenomenon. There was no evidence that changes in public expenditure and QoL would affect each other in the short term. The added value of this paper is that it fills parts of the research gap concerning our knowledge on the empirical links between public expenditure and QoL at the local level.

Factors Associated with Quality of Life among People with Atrial Fibrillation: Jordan Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that may adversely affect the quality of life (QoL). Several factors could be associated with the QoL among patients with AF; however, evidence regarding these factors is still limited and controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the level of QoL and its associated factors among Jordanian patients with AF. Subjects and methods: A case study design was implemented. A sample of 620 participants were recruited from 28 outpatient clinics registered in the Jordan atrial fibrillation registry AF (JoFIB). Data on QoL were gathered through the self-reported Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-life tool (AFEQT). A QoL questionnaire was validated in this population before starting this study. The cardiac nurse then provided the research assistant with data relating to patients' characteristics and associated comorbidities. Results: The overall AFEQT scores were positively skewed (median 21.3, IQR: 14.4-31.9). This pattern was reflected for the AFEQT sub-scales 'Symptoms' (20.8, 8.3-33.3), 'Daily activities' (16.7, 10.4-27.1), and 'Treatment concerns' (27.8, 19.4-41.7), whereas 'Treatment satisfaction' was negatively skewed (91.7, 83.3-91.7). Patients in the higher quartiles, indicating a better QoL, tended to be younger and were less likely to experience dyslipidemia, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, or other comorbidities. Over 90% of patients were currently experiencing AF, and patients with a better QoL tended to be less likely to be currently experiencing AF and more likely to have had their latest episode of AF more than a month ago (compared to less than a month ago). Age, BMI, dyslipidemia, heart failure, COPD, CAD, history of ablation, and the use of anticoagulants were significantly associated with the overall AFEQT score (R2 = 0.278). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that AF Jordanian patients had low levels of QoL. Patients in higher quartiles for the overall AFEQT score were younger, with fewer disease comorbidities and less experience of current AF episodes. Several modifiable and non-modifiable factors were associated with QoL in AF patients. Age, BMI, dyslipidemia, heart failure, COPD, CAD, history of ablation, and the use of oral anticoagulants were significantly associated with the overall AFEQT score. Healthcare providers should target these factors as indicators or interventions for which QoL is continuously monitored.

Evaluation of the efficacy and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders treated with Kovacs digital occlusal splint: a pilot study

BackgroundFew studies have been conducted on treating temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) with new digital occlusal splints, which has increasingly attracted wide attention.MethodsTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and quality of life (QoL) of Kovacs digital occlusal splint (KDOS) treatment in patients with TMD.Materials and methodsEighty-nine patients with TMD who were treated using KDOS were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the Wilkes stage. The clinical symptoms and QoL scores of the patients in each group were recorded before and at least three months after treatment, and the data were statistically analyzed and compared. The relationships between the disease severity, sex, age, and level of QoL before treatment and improvement in the clinical symptoms were analyzed using binary logistic regression.ResultsThe mean age and follow-up period of the patients were 28.0 ± 10.4 years and 4.9 ± 2.1 months, respectively. After KDOS treatment, the improvement rates of joint noise and pain were 80.4% and 69.8%, respectively. Additionally, the patients’ maximum mouth opening and global QoL mean scores significantly improved compared to those before treatment (p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors affecting the improvement in the clinical symptoms were disease severity and level of QoL before treatment.ConclusionsKDOS can improve the clinical symptoms and QoL of patients with TMD. Moreover, patients without osteoarthritis and with low pretreatment QoL levels are more likely to demonstrate clinical improvement.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (ID: ChiCTR2300076518) on 11/10/2023.

Quality of Life and C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The connection between chronic inflammation and the quality of life (QOL) in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia lacks clarity. This study aimed to achieve 2 primary objectives: (1) assess the QOL among outpatients with schizophrenia and (2) explore the potential correlation between reduced QOL and heightened levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with schizophrenia. The research included 129 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia who were receiving care at the psychiatry department of the University Hospital Mohamed VI in Marrakech, Morocco. Disease severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), while the QOL was measured using the Moroccan Arabic version of The Schizophrenia Quality of Life questionnaire. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their CRP levels: normal CRP (≤5.0 mg/L) and high CRP (>5.0 mg/L). A comparative analysis of sociodemographic, clinical, biological, and quality of life factors was conducted between the 2 groups (normal CRP and high CRP). The group with elevated CRP levels exhibited higher scores in various PANSS categories, including PANSS total score (P ≤ .01), PANSS positive score (P ≤ .01), PANSS negative score (P ≤ .01), and PANSS general score (P ≤ .01). After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, individuals with elevated CRP levels demonstrated lower QOL compared to those with normal CRP levels (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.46-0.68). Significant associations were noted between male gender (OR = 0.047, 95% CI = 0.01-0.26), earlier onset of the condition (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.33-0.82), current tobacco smoking (OR = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.00-0.08), and heightened CRP levels. Our study suggests that higher CRP is associated with lower QOL levels in schizophrenia.

Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Rivers State, Nigeria

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurologic disorder which leads to physical disability in children. Children with CP require more care and attention from their care givers. Hence the quality of life (QoL) of the care givers can be adversely affected.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the QoL and its determinants among caregivers of children with CP in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, a hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out, participants were 96 caregivers of children on follow up for CP. The English Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) was used to evaluate the QoL of the participants. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristic of the participants and children with CP, while the patients hospital record was used to obtain the medical history of the patients. The functional disability level of the child was measured by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS levels I-V) scale. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine the predictors of the care givers QoL on all four domains of the WHOQOL-Bref.&#x0D; Results: The age of the participant ranged from 23 -58 years with a mean age of 37.67± 8.27 years. Seventy-eight (81.3%) were females, 77(80.0%) had secondary education and above while 56 (58.3%) of the patients had co-morbidity. The care givers had lower level of QoL &lt; 60 points in all domains except for Physical Health Domain which had mean point of 61.3.&#x0D; The GMFCS level of the patients with CP and the marital status of the caregivers significantly determined the different domains of the caregivers QoL (p ≤ 0.05). Age of care giver (p 0.00), presence of comorbidity (0.03) significantly predicted the psychological domain of the QoL of the care givers. In addition, the socioeconomic class significantly predicted the environment and psychological domains of the caregivers QoL. (p &lt; 0.05)&#x0D; Conclusion: The quality of life in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy is low. The predictors include GMFCS level of the patient, age of the care giver, marital status, presence of comorbidity and socioeconomic status. The treatment of CP should include strategies to enhance the health and quality of life of caregivers of children with the condition.

Asthma–COPD overlap syndrome among smoker subjects with asthma: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) in asthmatic outpatients with smoking exposure (smokers or ex-smokers with ≥10 pack-year history) and to evaluate quality of life (QoL) and adherence among the study sample. This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient respiratory clinics in governmental hospitals in Jordan. Asthmatic outpatients were interviewed to assess their spirometric readings, patients’ adherence, and patients’ QoL [using the Mini Asthma QoL questionnaire (MiniAQLQ)]. The prevalence of ACOS was found to be 33% among asthmatic smoker patients in the outpatient setting (n = 65 out of 200 subjects with asthma-diagnosed patients recruited into the study). For subjects with ACOS, 47.7% of them were older than 60 years old. Smoking history for more than 30 years was prevalent among most subjects with ACOS (67.7%). The MiniAQLQ average score was found to be low (mean ± SD = 3.23 ± 1.01, score out of 7) and similarly for patients’ adherence to their treatment modalities (mean ±SD = 1.76 ± 1.2, score out of 6). A significant positive relationship between adherence to treatment and QoL was found among subjects with ACOS (correlation coefficient = 0.171, p-value = 0.018). In conclusion, a moderate prevalence of ACOS was estimated among asthmatic smoker patients. Low levels of QoL and adherence to treatment were significantly correlated.

Insomnia among Intensive Care Unit Nurses in the United Arab Emirates and its Association to Work Productivity and Quality of Life

Background: A healthy workforce is essential for sustainable healthcare systems, disease control, and the provision of quality and safe healthcare services. Insomnia is a common problem among critical care nurses attributed to the hard nature of their work, long and irregular shifts, high levels of stress and tension, and exposure to traumatic situations associated with critical care environments. These issues compromise their professional and personal lives, have financial consequences for health organizations, and may reduce the quality of care provided to patients. Aim: To assess the prevalence of insomnia among ICU nurses and determine its impact on their Quality of Life (QoL) and work productivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 430 ICU nurses working in three major governmental hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. Nurses were selected via convenient sampling. Data collected included nurses’ demographic characteristics, insomnia levels using the Athens Insomnia Scale, work productivity using the workability index, and QoL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief questionnaire Results: Approximately 237 (55%) of participants reported moderate to severe levels of insomnia, and 195 (45.3%) had moderate productivity levels. However, the majority of participants reported low QoL levels in physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL domains (61.4%, 60.2%, 47.2%, and 70.5%), respectively. Bivariate correlations demonstrated a significant negative relationship; correlation coefficient of -0.517, between participants' insomnia levels and work productivity levels. Additionally, significant negative relationships were found between insomnia levels and the QoL domains, with correlation coefficients of -0.629, -0.568, -0.469, and -0.485, respectively. Conclusion: This study found that insomnia has a negative relationship with ICU nurses’ work productivity and QoL. This may impact care delivery patient care and safety.Regular counseling sessions, better working hours, less overtime, and a better work-life balance may contribute to increased productivity and improved QoL among ICU nurses in the UAE.

Quality of Life of Elderly People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities in Chile

Introduction: Currently, the concept of quality of life (QoL) is key to defining health policies aimed at the population with intellectual disability (ID). Most QoL studies in this field have been limited to people with ID with higher levels of functioning. This has resulted in little interest in evaluating QoL interventions in people with ID and high support needs, affecting their general well-being and conditioning the care received. This study seeks to explore the QoL levels of people with severe and profound ID, and to examine their differences according to some variables. Material and methods: From a quantitative-descriptive approach, the San Martín scale, based on the eight-dimensional QoL Model of Schalock and Verdugo, has been applied to 201 Chilean people with severe or profound ID between 60 and 86 years of age. Results: The data show how most of the participants have low levels of QoL, with self-determination and social inclusion being the most affected dimensions. When comparing the QoL score with the sociodemographic variables, there are differences according to the level of support needs and the type of center of which they are users. Conclusion: It is necessary to pay attention to the low levels of QoL because there is a notable risk that they lead to greater situations of vulnerability for this group. Likewise, it is convenient to advocate for a higher frequency in the support offered and to bring the spaces in which these people operate as close as possible to the community.

Issues Related to Children with Leukemia in Indonesia: An Integrative Review

This integrative review, based on twenty-four studies from data resources, including Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Indonesia science and technology index (SINTA), was published from 2009 to 2019. The eligible studies were conducted in Indonesia, published in the English or Indonesian language, and reported the incident, survival rate, and physical or psychological effects of disease or chemotherapy. There were 23 quantitative studies and two qualitative studies. The theoretical or conceptual framework was not identified to guide and develop the studies. Most studies used retrospective and cross-sectional studies; the target population was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and used small sample sizes for a cross-sectional study. The variables that were explored in the quantitative studies consisted of the incidence of leukemia, survival rate, abandonment of treatment, effects of disease or chemotherapy, quality of life (QOL), and others. The qualitative findings focused on the experience of being diagnosed with leukemia and its meaning in the adolescent context. The evidence from the studies showed that the incidence rate of all types of leukemia increases each year. The survival rate was lower than in other countries, with differences in numbers among hospitals. The effects of the disease and chemotherapy dominated the problem of children the low level of QOL. More research is necessary to explore the factors related to treatments' outcomes, particularly the aspects related to survival rate and QOL are using comprehensive data analysis, an appropriate theoretical framework to guide the study, more sample size, and involving multiple hospital settings.

Effects of Biologics on Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriasis: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey in Chinese Population

Objective:Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease that severely impacts patients’ quality of life (QoL) and psychological health. While biologics have been shown to be effective in treating psoriatic lesions, thus improving QoL, real-life data regarding such effects remain scant. We administered a repeated cross-sectional survey to assess the effects of 8 weeks of biologics treatment on the QoL and mental health status of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Methods:From March to May 2022, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and treated with biologics in the outpatient clinic at the Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University. Assessments were performed before treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with biologics. Psoriasis severity, QoL, and mental health status were evaluated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), 36-Item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A multivariate generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis was used to account for repeated measures and to determine the effects of treatment duration and type of biological agent on relevant indicators.Results:Among the 78 enrolled patients, the ranges of pretreatment scores were 4.6 to 46.8 for the PASI, 1 to 30 for the DLQI, 31.5 to 100.0 for the physical component score (PCS) of the SF-36, 16.6 to 100.0 for the mental component score (MCS) of the SF-36, 0 to 15 for the HADS-A, and 0 to 17 for the HADS-D. After 8 weeks of biologics treatment, 98.7% (77/78) of patients had obtained PASI 75. All assessed scores changed over time (GEE,P&lt; 0.001). Moreover, there were group-by-time interaction effects for the DLQI score (GEE,P= 0.023) and PCS (GEE,P= 0.029). The HADS-A and HADS-D scores were both decreased at week 8 compared with pretreatment values. Correlation analyses revealed that higher DLQI scores were associated with lower levels of QoL and higher levels of anxiety or depression.Conclusion:Biologics are not only effective in the treatment of skin lesions but also exert beneficial effects upon the QoL and mental health of patients with psoriasis as determined in the short-term assessments conducted in this study.

Burnout and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have had to deal with large numbers of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and were at a high risk of burnout and dissatisfaction regarding their work-life integration. This article aims to assess burnout, the work-life balance (WLB), and quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers and the relationship between these aspects in Saudi Arabia. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 491 HCPs from five secondary hospitals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used to gather data, including WLB, burnout, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Results. Healthcare professionals struggled to balance their work and personal lives during COVID-19 and reported many burnout symptoms and a low level of QoL. Two-thirds (68.8%) of HCPs arrived home late from work and (56.6%) skipped a meal. HCPs who worked through a shift without any breaks were found in 57.8%. It was reported that 39.3% of HCPs felt frustrated by technology while being exhausted from their work (60.5%). The correlation coefficients between the WLB and health-related QoL (HRQoL) showed a significant negative correlation for all items, which ranged from (-.099 to -.403, P&lt;0.05). The WLB and burnout scores were successful predictors of low levels of HRQoL (P&lt;0.001 for both explanatory variables). Conclusions. Work-life imbalances, high levels of burnout, and low QoL levels are common among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19. Hospital administration should address the WLB and reduce burnout symptoms among HCPs to increase satisfaction and improve the quality of care.

The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Quality of Life: Investigation of Indirect Effects Through Self-Determination.

Self-determination, described broadly as experiencing causal agency, is positively associated with quality of life (QoL) and increases through satisfaction of three basic psychological needs: autonomy (feeling able to make choices free from pressure), competence (perceived self-efficacy), and relatedness (social connection). Both unsupportive environments and challenges with social interaction can interfere with satisfaction of psychological needs. Social challenges are a key trait for autism diagnosis, and unsupportive environments are also known to adversely affect QoL for autistic people. Autistic people report, on average, lower self-determination than non-autistic people. Therefore, it is hypothesized that higher levels of autistic traits may reduce opportunities to develop self-determination, affecting QoL. We tested a parallel indirect effects model where we hypothesized that the relationships between autistic traits and four domains of QoL (psychological, social, physical, and environmental) would be indirectly influenced through self-determination (represented through satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness). This study drew participants from the general population (N = 262; M AGE = 37.6, standard deviation = 11.92; 1.9% reported an autism diagnosis and 2.7% identified as autistic without a diagnosis). Participants completed an online survey. Higher levels of autistic traits were associated with lower levels of self-determination and lower levels of QoL, and there was a significant indirect effect between autistic traits and QoL via self-determination. More specifically, we found a significant indirect effect between autistic traits and all QoL domains via competence; between autistic traits and the environmental, social, and psychological QoL domains via relatedness; and between autistic traits and the physical and environmental QoL domains through autonomy. Our results suggest that supporting satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness may represent an important element in designing effective programs to support the development of self-determination in people with higher levels of autistic traits (potentially including autistic individuals) and also to support these people to improve their QoL.

Associations of physical activity and quality of life in parapneumonic effusion patients.

Little is known about activity behaviours and quality of life (QoL) of patients with parapneumonic pleural effusions (PPE) after hospital discharge. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomised trial (dexamethasone versus placebo) for hospitalised patients with PPE. We: 1) described the patients' activity behaviour patterns and QoL measured at discharge and at 30 days post-discharge; and 2) examined the association between activity behaviours and QoL scores. Activity behaviour (7-day accelerometry; Actigraph GT3X+) and QoL (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36) were assessed. Repeated measures analysis of covariance controlling for baseline values and a series of linear regression models were undertaken. 36 out of 53 eligible participants completed accelerometry assessments. Despite modest increases in light physical activity (+7.5%) and some domains of QoL (>2 points) from discharge to 30 days post-discharge, patients had persistently high levels of sedentary behaviour (>65% of waking wear time) and poor QoL (≤50 out of 100 points) irrespective of treatment group (p=0.135-0.903). Increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher scores on most QoL domains (p=0.006-0.037). Linear regression indicates that a clinically important difference of 5 points in physical composite QoL score can be achieved by reallocating 16.1 min·day-1 of sedentary time to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Patients with PPE had low levels of physical activity and QoL at discharge and 30 days post-discharge irrespective of treatment. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation was associated with higher QoL scores. Increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity following discharge from the hospital may be associated with improvements in QoL.

Clinical and social aspects of the quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinsons disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease associated with the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. The disease is manifested by motor disorders and a variety of non-motor symptoms (NMS). NMS may reduce the quality of life (QoL) of people with Parkinsons disease (PD) more than motor manifestations, but their ultimate contribution has not been fully established.&#x0D; AIM. To determine the impact of motor, cognitive and affective disorders and social factors on the quality of life of patients with PD in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).&#x0D; MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study included 35 patients with PD, HoehnYahr stage 13 (60% women and 40% men), mean age 64.42.0 years. We used scales: UPDRS, MoCA, HADS, NMSQuest, Epward Sleepiness Scale, PDQ39. The analysis of clinical signs and social factors in the studied group of patients was carried out.&#x0D; RESULTS. The decrease in QoL was moderately associated with disease stage (r=0.56, p=0.009), the severity of motor manifestations (r=0.65, p 0.001) and the total number of NMS (r=0.46, p=0.008). Age and disease duration did not affect on QoL. The decrease in QoL was influenced by the presence of depression (r=0.83, p 0.001), anxiety (r=0.69, p 0.001) and cognitive decline (r=0.46, p=0.008). Low levels of QoL were found in individual PD patients and in people with disabilities. QoL was not influenced by ethnicity, gender, employment or education. Three groups of patients with PD were identified: those with mild, moderate and severe decrease in QoL. Their clinical and social portraits are presented.&#x0D; CONCLUSION. The dependence of the quality of life of patients with PD on the form of the disease, the stage of the disease, the severity of depression, social factors has been demonstrated, which requires attention not only from neurologists, but also from psychotherapists and social workers.

Quality of Life in Elderlies: A Cross-sectional and Field-based Study in Iran

Background: Quality of life (QOL) in the elderly has not been investigated as much as their life expectancy. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the elders’ QOL. Methods: In this study, 386 elders were selected using the multistage cluster random sampling method. The Leiden-Padua (LIEPAD) questionnaire, consisting of the core components (CCQOL) and moderators (MQOL) of QOL, was used and analyzed with SPSS software. Results: The interviewees’ mean age was 68.12 ± 6.24 years. The QOL score was 83.67 ± 13.75 (out of 127), consisting of 27 (6.9%) elders with low, 316 (81.8%) elders with moderate, and 43 (11%) elders with high levels of QOL. The CCQOL and MQOL scores were 70.68 ± 9.42 (out of 93), and 20.94 ± 2.30 (out of 34), respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, sleep disorders (B = -0.15), osteoporosis (B = -0.14), female gender (B = -0.13), and not being the source of family income (B = -0.13) were inversely correlated with QOL. In contrast, sleep disorders, facing violence, female gender, migraine, psychological diseases, and not being the source of family income were inversely correlated with CCQOL. Sexual problems, facing violence, no supplementary insurance coverage, inability to walk, and migraine had inverse correlations with MQOL. Conclusions: Seven out of ten elders had a moderate level of QOL, while elderly females and elders with chronic diseases or those who were not the source of family income had lower levels of QOL. Accordingly, the elders’ QOL can be improved by integrating the elders’ care programs in the health centers.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FEAR OF FALLING AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS: THE ROLE OF ACTIVITY RESTRICTION

Abstract Falls among older adults are a significant later life course event with detrimental impacts on health, quality of life (QOL), and mortality. Fear of falling (FOF) is a common problem, which can lead to physical and social activity restriction and poor QOL. However, few studies have comprehensively explored the relationships among FOF, activity restriction, and QOL among nursing home residents. This study aimed to investigate: 1) whether FOF is negatively associated with QOL; and 2) the mediating role of activity restriction in the relationship between FOF and QOL among nursing home residents in mainland China. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 316 residents from 27 nursing homes participated in this study. The mixed-effects multivariate linear or ordinal logistic regression models were conducted. All statistical models were adjusted for resident- and facility-level variables. More than half of nursing home residents (55.4%) reported they often or always reduced their activities. As expected, FOF was directly associated with lower levels of QOL (β = -0.19, p = 0.010). However, the strength of this association was attenuated and no longer significant with the inclusion of activity restriction in the model. FOF was positively associated with activity restriction (β = 0.33, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and activity restriction was negatively associated with QOL (rarely/sometimes reduced activity: β = -1.23, p = 0.386; often/always reduced activity: β = -3.85, p = 0.014). Given the aging of our populations, it is important to take FOF and activity restriction into account when caring for older people.

Relationship between knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and quality of life in the middle-aged and elderly people in China: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to describe the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and quality of life (QoL) in the middle-aged and elderly people in China and to clarify the relationship between the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL. It is a cross-sectional study and in this study, a stratified multistage random sampling method was used to collect data on the three factors such as knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL among the middle-aged and elderly people in the Hunan Province. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to test the relationship between the knee joint discomfort, self-management behavior, and QoL. The results of the present study showed that among them, the prevalence of knee pain was the highest (52.1%), followed by knee weakness (42.5%), numbness (41.8%), cold feeling (40.0%), tenderness (38.3%), and distension feeling (37.5%). Average score of self-management of knee joint discomfort in the middle-aged and elderly people was 2.14 ± 0.67. The level of self-management in each dimension ranged from high to low as emotional management, daily management, symptoms management, and information management. The average scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were 42.85 ± 5.34 and 43.62 ± 8.43, respectively. The occurrence, frequency, and severity of discomfort symptoms were positively correlated with the symptoms management, daily management, information management, and self-management behaviors, and negatively correlated with the emotional management, PCS and MSC, except for the occurrence of discomfort symptoms (P < 0.05). Knee joint discomfort was prevalent in the middle-aged and elderly people. In addition, they displayed a low level of self-management behavior and poor QoL. The middle-aged and elderly people faced knee discomfort symptoms, the more frequent and severe symptoms, the higher level of symptom management, daily management, and information management, and the lower level of emotional management and QoL.

Caregivers’ Quality of Life: Comparative Analysis of Psychiatric ward and General Caregivers Quality of Life

Mental illness affects at least one in four people, either directly or indirectly. Caregivers play a significant role in fulfilling the vital physical needs and psychological wellbeing of mentally ill patients. Caregiving for mentally ill persons causes a burden to the caregivers. This burden reflects in the physical and mental health of the caregiver. This study was designed to explore the Quality of Life (QOL) of caregivers of mentally ill inpatients. In this descriptive, comparative cross-sectional study, the quality of life of caregivers of the psychiatric ward and general wards was studied by inpatients settings using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Scale. Caregivers of mentally ill patients have lower QOL levels, and it was observed that the WHOQOL-BREF score of the general ward was significantly higher than that of the psychiatric ward caregivers in all domains. This study would help manage, intervene, and identify the physical and mental health caregivers.

Quality of Life and Its Association With HIV-Related Stigma Among People Living With HIV in Kerman, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and its association with HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kerman province, southeast Iran. A convenience sample of 104 PLHIV was recruited. Data on QoL were collected using the HIV/AIDS-Targeted QoL instrument. Internal and external stigma were measured using an instrument developed by UNAIDS. The average QoL score was 52.5 ( SD =13.9). In multivariable model, PLHIV who experienced higher external stigma score (B = -1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.6 to -1.1) and higher internal stigma score (B = -1.1; 95% CI: -1.5 to -0.6) had lower level of QoL. The low level of QoL among PLHIV in Iran indicates the need for initiatives to increase QoL among this population. Our data suggest that QoL in PLHIV could be improved by interventions aimed at reducing stigma in both community and health care settings.

Parental perspectives on the quality of life of children with Down syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosome abnormality and the most frequent cause of developmental delay/intellectual disabilities in children. Although the investigation of the quality of life (QoL) is crucial in children with DS, relatively poor attention has been paid to this topic. The current study aimed to evaluate parent-reported QoL in a group of children with DS and identify children's individual and clinical features associated with different levels of QoL. We included in the study 73 children with DS (5–12 years) and investigated the parent-reported levels of QoL by means of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Cognitive level and the presence of behavioral difficulties were also evaluated. The overall parent-reported QoL of children with DS was high; emotional functioning was the domain with the highest level of QoL. Moreover, parents perceived low levels of QoL in children who exhibited low IQ, worse analogical reasoning, worse adaptive skills, more frequent challenging behaviors, more ritualistic/sameness behavior and more autistic symptoms. No differences emerged for family variables, namely parental education and employment, between the two groups with high and low QoL, as perceived by parents. The understanding of cognitive and behavioral factors - such as analogical reasoning, socio-communication abilities and challenging behaviors - related with different degrees of QoL in children with DS is crucial for the development of effective strategies to promote the improvement of the QoL.