WHOQOL-BREF Scores Research Articles

Strengthening individual and family resilience against leprosy-related discrimination: A pilot intervention study.

Leprosy and leprosy-related stigma can have a major impact on psychosocial wellbeing of persons affected and their family members. Resilience is a process that incorporates many of the core skills and abilities which may enable people to address stigma and discrimination. The current study aimed to develop and pilot an intervention to strengthen individual and family resilience against leprosy-related discrimination. We used a quasi-experimental, before-after study design with a mixed methods approach. The 10-week family-based intervention was designed to strengthen the resilience of individuals and families by enhancing their protective abilities and capacity to overcome adversity. The study was conducted in two sites, urban areas in Telangana state, and in rural areas in Odisha state, India. Persons affected and their family members were included using purposive sampling. Two questionnaires were used pre-and post-intervention: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC, maximum score 100, with high scores reflecting greater resilience) and the WHOQOL-BREF (maximum score of 130, with higher scores reflecting higher quality of life). In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted post-intervention. Data were collected at baseline, a few weeks after completion of the intervention, and in the Odisha cohort again at six months after completion. Paired t-tests measured differences pre- and post- intervention. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Eighty participants across 20 families were included in the study (23 persons affected and 57 family members). We found a significant increase in CD-RISC scores for persons affected and family members from Odisha state (baseline 46.5, first follow-up 77.0, second follow-up 70.0), this improvement was maintained at six-month follow-up. There was no increase in CD-RISC scores post-intervention among participants from Telangana state. WHOQOL-BREF scores were significantly higher at follow-up for persons affected in both states, and for family members in Odisha state. No families dropped out of the study. In the qualitative feedback, all participants described drawing benefit from the programme. Participants especially appreciated the social dimensions of the intervention. This pilot study showed that the 10-week family-based intervention to strengthen resilience among persons affected by leprosy and their family members was feasible, and has the potential to improve resilience and quality of life. A large-scale efficacy trial is necessary to determine the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the intervention.

Stigma, insight and social anxiety in first episode patients with psychosis

IntroductionPeople with schizophrenia are considered to be within the most stigmatized social groups. Accurate and efficient detection of stigma and its correlates is essential in patients with psychosis.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess illness insight, stigma, social anxiety and quality of life in patients with a first episode of psychosis and their possible correlationsMethodsThe sample of this study consisted of 90 patients with a first episode of psychosis that fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tools used for the purpose of this study were Schedule for the assessment of insight-Expanded version, Internalized Stigma for Mental Illness Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment - Greek version, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale - Greek version. Data were collected and analyzed with SPSS v26.ResultsThe study group had good insight (SAI-E score: 20.33±4.449), medium to high stigma values (ISMI score 50.93±7.854), a good enough quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF score: 86.08±10.010) and low levels of social anxiety (LSAS-Gr Fear score: 3.26±8.653; Anxiety score: 2,93±7,596). The results of this study show significant at the 0.01 level 2-tailed correlations as such: (i) a positive and significant relationship between ISMI and LSAS-Gr, (ii) a negative and significant relationship between ISMI and WHOQOL-BREF, and (iii) a negative and moderate relationship between WHOQOL-BREF and LSAS-Gr.ConclusionsWe report medium to high stigma levels, good insight and a good enough quality of life in a sample of first-episode patients with psychosis.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

A Study of Depression, Quality of Life and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer and its subsequent treatment are a great source of anxiety and depression in patients. However, it remains unclear whether this decrease in mental and physical health is temporary or if long-term effects would appear once the patient is well out of these stressful times. Methods: a total of 204 women were included in the present analysis. Participants were recruited at tertiary care hospital (EL- Maadi oncology hospital). Results: the mean age of the included patients was 56.76 ±17.5 years old; almost one-third of them aged between 51-60 years old. In our cohort, the mean BDI-II was 15.4 ±29.4. A total of 48 patients (22.5%) had depression. Of them, 13 patients had mild depression (6.4%), 14 patients had moderate depression (6.9%), 9 patients had severe depression (4.4%), and 10 patients had extreme depression (4.9%). there were statistically significant associations between presence of depression and overall WHOQOL-BREF score (p < 0.001), physical domains (p <0.001), psychological health (p <0.001), social relation (p <0.001), and environment score (p <0.001); depressed patients exhibited lower scores in all of these domains than non-depressed patients. Conclusion: breast cancer is often accompanied by severe psychological distress, which is associated with a significant prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in the course of the disease. Depression may reduce the efficacy of chemotherapy, and therefore the survival chances of cancer patients. This study provided evidence that depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer undergoing treatments detrimentally affected various aspects of the QOL in a real- world setting.

Health-related quality of life among Ethiopian pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectiveTo explore the quality of life and its association with perceived social support and pandemic fear among pregnant women.MethodsCross‐sectional study was conducted among 384 pregnant mothers at southwest Ethiopia from August 1, 2020, to August 15, 2020. Participants were included by consecutive sampling. Quality of life was assessed by short version of WHO quality of life. Social support and fear of COVID‐19 were evaluated by Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and fear of COVID‐19 scale (FCoV‐19S), respectively. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Frequency and percentage for categorical variables, and mean ± SD for continuous variables were calculated. Independent sample t test and ANOVA were employed to compare the groups of normally distributed variables. Multiple regressions were performed, and Pearson correlation (r) was used to explore the relationships. Statistical significance was declared at p < .05, and 95% CI was calculated.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 31.3 ± 7.7, and 40.4% of them were between the ages of 25–34. The mean scores of participants those living with <5 family members and those living with ≥5 family members were significantly different [t(382) = 3.09, p = .002]. Participants with primary education have significantly high mean score of WHOQOL‐BREF from those participants with no formal education (p = .028, MD = −1.9). Moderate negative correlation was observed between the scores of WHOQOL‐BREF and FCoV‐19S. All the components of MSPSS had positively associated with WHOQOL‐BREF score at significant level. On final model, FCoV‐19S score has uniquely accounted for 19.4% of variance in WHOQOL‐BREF.ConclusionsPerceived social support has positively linked to QOL among pregnant women during COVID‐19 pandemic. Pandemic‐related fear has negative association with QOL and may be considered independent contributor of decreased quality of life in this population.

Comparison of the Quality of Life in Fertile and Infertile Women Admitted to Shiraz’s Healthcare Centers During 2017-2018

Background: Infertility, as an individual and social problem, affects couples’ quality of life and family functioning, job relationships, sexual skills, and marital satisfaction. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between infertility and the quality of life in fertile and infertile women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study with a convenience purposive sampling method, 220 eligible women (110 fertile and 110 infertile) admitted to Shiraz’s healthcare centers were selected. Data collection was conducted using a demographic information questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Results: In this study, a total of 220 fertile and infertile women were studied. Our findings showed that the quality of life WHOQOL-BREF score was higher in the fertile group (72.21 ± 12.74) than in the infertile group (69.86 ± 12.58), although not significant. However, the physical area of the quality of life was significantly higher in the fertile group (17.55 ± 3.62) than in the infertile group (16.57 ± 3.55) (P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups concerning other quality of life areas (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that infertility could reduce the quality of life of infertile women in all areas, and this reduction was significant in the physical area. It appears that infertility diagnostic and therapeutic interventions can affect the quality of life of women in the physical area. Further research is recommended in this field.

Patient-centered approach using COPM, GAS scores in medical rehabilitation of patients with tetraplegia after spinal cord injury

To study the efficacy of the patient- and task-oriented approach and specific therapeutic exercises (TE) for the arms in patients after spinal cord injury at the cervical level. The study included 119 patients with a history of spinal injury of more than one year. They were divided into three demographically comparable groups. Group 1 patients (control) received standard of care: TE, physiotherapeutic treatment, social adaptation (SA), and massage; Group 2-standard of care and specific TE for the arms as part of the SA; Group 3-the same as Group 2 combined with the patient- and task-oriented approach (patient-selected activities were trained). Outcomes were assessed at the beginning (T1), end (T2), and at 1 year (T3) after a 30-day medical rehabilitation course. No statistically significant differences between the groups in demographic, neurological (ISCSCI score), motor (FIMm, VLT scores), psychological parameters (depression, anxiety), quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF score) before the medical rehabilitation (T1) were observed. At the end of the medical rehabilitation course (T2), the increase in functional scores was 6.0±5.4 points of FIMm score, 6.0±4.6 points of VLT score in group 1; 8.0±7.6 points of FIMm score, 7.0±7.1 points of VLT score in group 2; 9.0±6.9 points of FIMm score, 8.0±7.6 points of VLT in group 3. Significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2 and 3 on the domains of «finger I» (13.6±9.64 points vs. 15.2±9.40 and 15.3±9.21 points respectively), «fingers II-V» (9.4±6.76 points vs. 11.3±6.41 and 11.6±6.76 points respectively) of VLT score; between groups 3 and 1 on the domains «self-care» (25.9±9.67 points vs. 23.1±9.8 points), «transfer» (11.7±6.21 points vs. 10.6±6.1 points) of the FIMm score, and also the group 3 patients had a higher quality of life by 3.0±1.8 points. At delayed follow-up (T3-T2), no changes of the FIMm and VLT scores were detected within groups. In group 3, 69% of problems were identified in self-care (COPM); subjective assessment of functional improvement for COPM (T2-T1) was as follows: «performance» 4.7±1.27 points, «satisfaction» 3.8±1.63 points; for GAS the T-score at the end of rehabilitation was 1.3±0.55 points, and the greatest significance of change was noted for COPM under «performance» (ES=0.73), with the correlation coefficient between FIMm and COPM being 0.55 and 0.63 for «performance» and «satisfaction» domains, respectively. Patient- and task-oriented approach implemented by using COPM questionnaire and GAS score together with specific TE for arms is an effective method of motor medical rehabilitation of patients with posttraumatic cervical tetraplegia. This approach improves their quality of life, while parameters of subjective scores (COPM, GAS) have the same sensitivity in comparison with the conventional motor scores (FIMm, VLT).

Factor structure and psychometric properties of a new 39-item version of the Criteria for Recovery from Eating Disorders questionnaire (CRED-39).

Eating disorders (ED) are a group of mental disorders, which are quite difficult to treat. In studies on the recovery process of ED, patients' experience is rarely been taken into account. In addition, there seems to be a gap between patients' objective improvement, as assessed by clinicians, and patients' own subjective evaluation of their recovery. Criteria for Recovery from Eating Disorders (CRED) is a questionnaire used to investigate recovery criteria which are considered important from the patients' perspective. The purpose of the present study was to examine the factorial structure of CRED and to evaluate its psychometric properties. A sample of 138 patients in ED treatment were asked to complete the CRED along with the WHO questionnaire on quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) and the eating disorders questionnaire (EDE-Q). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the factor structure of the CRED. Internal consistency assessment was based on Cronbach's α. Convergent validity was assessed through correlations of CRED with WHOQoL-BREF and EDE-Q. The EFA led to the removal of 13 items of the original CRED and yielded a conceptually justifiable seven factor model: Body Experience, Psychological Well-being, Social Relationships, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Bodily Functions, Eating Behaviours, and Compensatory Behaviours. Cronbach's alphas of the total questionnaire and all seven factors ranged from 0.77 to 0.88. Convergent validity to WHOQoL-BREF and EDE-Q total scores and subscales were found to be quite satisfactory. Our analysis has, thus, led us to propose the CRED-39, a 39-item version of the CRED questionnaire, which seems to be a valid and reliable tool in assessing ED patients' own view of their recovery process. CRED-39 can be used in clinical practice to address personal needs and to direct individualised interventions.

Quality of life and occupational balance during corona virus disease 2019 lockdown in India: A survey on parents of children below 16 years

Background: Lockdown due to corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected physical, mental, social, economic and emotional aspects of life around the globe. People of all age groups, from children to older adults have had to compromise overall life-style by adapting to the changes necessary for preventive and safety measures. Children are also overwhelmed due to changes in routine, occupation, leisure activities, and social participation. These have added to the psychosocial stressors of parents and caregivers and have influenced their quality of life (QOL) and occupational balance (OB). Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate QOL and OB among Indian parents of children below 16 years during COVID-19 lockdown. The secondary objective was to examine the relationship between QOL and OB as well as explored the level of QOL and OB among parents during COVID-19 lockdown. Study Design: An online based cross-sectional survey was conducted through different social media platforms. Methods: Parents (N = 277: n = 116 male and n = 161 female) of children below 16 years of age from different parts of India who were able to understand English language, filled an online questionnaire that assessed their QOL by World Health Organization QOL Short form (WHOQOL-Bref) and OB by OB Questionnaire (OBQ). Parents were recruited by a snow ball sampling method. Results: Results showed that the majority of the parents were having good self-rated WHOQOL-Bref and OBQ scores. Various socio-demographic variables including family structure, educational status, employment status and number of children did not influence OB and QOL of the parents. However, Independent sample “t” test showed a significant association (P = 0.014 and 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:-7.845, 0.902) between age of the parents and OBQ scores. In Karl Pearson correlation analysis, it was also found that the association between scores of OBQ and WHOQOL-Bref was positive with a highly significant (P = 0.001 and [95% CI]: 0.243, 0.465). Conclusion: The result of the study showed most of the parents of children below 16 years old were having good QOL and OB during COVID-19 lockdown.

Quality of life and mental health status of hansen disease patients, attending a designated leprosy care center in South-India.

"Quality of life (QOL)" is relatively a new concept, which originates from the World Health Organization (WHO) "health" definition. The WHO defines "health" as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. It introduces a word, "well-being," which has two components, one the objective component and the second subjective component. The objective component mainly includes all the material possession by an individual, whereas the subjective component includes the perception of health by an individual, i.e., "QoL." It has been observed that most of the persons affected by Hansen's Disease (leprosy) have good economic conditions, but they continue to suffer from social, psychological, and physical problems which makes their life miserable. Hence, an attempt has been made to assess their QOL and factors determining them. A convenient sampling technique was used and 114 persons affected with Hansen's disease were studied. The study was conducted for a period of 1 year from November 2012 to October 2013. QOL was assessed using the WHO QOL-BREF Questionnaire and mental health status by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. The results were obtained using SPSS 17.0 software, statistical tests such as Chi-square test, ANOVA, and standard multiple logistic regression analysis were used. Quality of leprosy patients was poor. The mean WHOQOL-BREF total score was below average (mean score <65). Physical QOL of leprosy was more affected in females (mean WHOQOL-BREF score = 20.80). Mental distress was more prevalent in males (74.6%) compared to females (25.4%). Presence of deformities, female sex of the patient, and advanced age of the patient showed the greatest association with adverse QOL. Presence of physical disabilities or deformities and advanced age of leprosy patients adversely affect QOL of leprosy patients, whereas low level of education and poor socioeconomic status do not have a significant effect on QOL.

A study of quality of sleep, quality of life, and cognition in elderly: Healthy control, depressed and with mild neurocognitive disorder

Background: Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining optimum physical and mental functioning and can be implicated in affecting the quality of life (QOL) and cognition in elderly population. This study aims to assess quality of sleep, QOL and to assess the effect of quality of sleep on QOL and cognition in elderly population Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in elderly population in which 30 were healthy control, 30 depressed, and 30 with mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD) who were assessed using Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL)-BREF, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short form, and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Scale-Revised (ACE-R). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20 software using descriptive methods and Pearson's correlation test. Results: Mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score was the lowest and mean WHOQOL-BREF score highest in healthy control compared to elderly with mild NCD and depression, the difference being statistically significant in both cases (P < 0.01). PSQI scores have negative correlation with the ACE-R scores when studied in healthy control group (P < 0.05, r = −0.136) and WHOQOL-BREF domain scores overall (P < 0.01 r = −0.485, −0.497, −0.350, −0.475). Conclusion: Quality of sleep in elderly with depression and mild NCD is lower as compared to healthy control. Sleep may affect QOL and cognition in elderly and thus it would be essential to screen and identify sleep-related issues and intervene early.

Türkiye'nin kuzeybatısında zihinsel ve bedensel engelli kişilerde yaşam kalitesi

Amaç: Bu çalışmada zihinsel ve fiziksel engelli bireylerin yaşam kalitesini etkileyen faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlanmıştır.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipteki bu çalışma Türkiye'nin kuzeybatısındaki Kırklareli'nde 18 yaş ve üstü zihinsel veya fiziksel engelli 157 kişiyi ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışma verileri Dünya Sağlık Örgütü Yaşam Kalitesi Kısa Versiyonu’nun (WHOQOL-BREF) engelliler için uyarlanmış sürümü ve DSÖ Engellilerde Yaşam Kalitesi Modülü (WHOQOL-DIS-TR) ile toplanmıştır.&#x0D; Bulgular: Çok değişkenli lineer regresyon analizi sonuçlarına göre engellilerde WHOQOL-BREF ve WHOQOL-DIS modül skorlarındaki artışın yüksek eğitim düzeyi, kentsel alanda yaşama, yalnız yaşama, iyi-orta düzeyde algılanan gelir, iyi-orta düzeyde sağlık düzeyi ve fiziksel engele sahip olma ile, WHOQOL-BREF ve WHOQOL-DIS modül skorlarındaki azalışın ise artan yaşla ilişkili olduğu belirlenmiştir.&#x0D; Sonuç: Zihinsel engellilerin WHOQOL-BREF psikolojik ve sosyal ilişkiler boyutu, WHOQOL-DIS engelli modülü ve bağımsızlık modül skorlarının fiziksel engelli bireylere göre düşük olduğu ve düşük eğitim düzeyi, kırsal alanda yaşama, kötü gelir ve sağlık algısının kötü yaşam kalitesi için değiştirilebilir risk faktörleri olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Fear of Falling, Community Participation, and Quality of Life Among Community-Dwelling People Who Use Wheelchairs Full Time

ObjectivesTo examine the differences in community participation and quality of life (QOL) among individuals who use wheelchairs full time with and without fear of falling (FOF). DesignCross-sectional study design. SettingUniversity research laboratory. ParticipantsIndividuals (N=85) who use a manual or power wheelchair full time who are living with various health conditions and have a history of at least 1 fall in the past 12 months (age, 45.4±15.8y; disability duration, 21.5±13.6y) were included. Forty-six (54%) were manual wheelchair users. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresTo quantify FOF, participants responded (yes/no) to the question: “Are you worried or concerned that you might fall?” Community participation and QOL were indexed by the Community Participation Indicator (CPI) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to examine the differences in CPI and WHOQOL-BREF scores among wheelchair users who reported FOF and no FOF. ResultsA total of 54 participants (63.5%) reported that they were worried or concerned about falling. The MANOVA revealed significant differences in overall CPI (F2,82=4.714; P=.012; Wilks’ λ=0.897) and WHOQOL-BREF (F4,63=3.32; P=.016; Wilks’ λ=.826) scores. Participants who reported FOF demonstrated significantly lower CPI and WHOQOL-BREF scores compared with those who did not report FOF. ConclusionsFOF and associated activity curtailment are prevalent and may be a factor influencing full time wheelchair users’ community participation and QOL. Prospective research is needed to better understand how FOF influences community participation and QOL among individuals who use wheelchairs full time. Findings would support the development of interventions, specifically for individuals who use wheelchairs full time, to reduce FOF and improve community participation and QOL.

The Relationship of Functional Status of Cortisol, Testosterone, and Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome in Male Schizophrenics.

Background The cross-sectional study is aimed at investigating the relationship between cortisol, testosterone, and metabolic characteristics among male schizophrenics. Methods 174 patients were grouped based on their risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) into the non-MetS, high-risk-MetS (HR-MetS), or MetS groups. Metabolic indices (body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) were associated with cortisol and testosterone levels using correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to associate the correlations between the WHO Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL–BREF) score and the five metabolic indices. Results The WHOQOL–BREF score for the non-MetS group significantly differed from the scores of the HR-MetS and MetS groups. The triglyceride level was positively correlated with the cortisol level, while all five metabolic indices were negatively correlated with testosterone level. Stepwise regression analysis produced a model predicting WHOQOL–BREF scores with four variables including MAP, intelligence quotient (IQ), FBG, and age. The correlation analysis then showed that there was a weak linear correlation between the testosterone level and all five metabolic indices. Conclusions Among the five metabolic indices, the risks of hypertension and hyperglycemia are correlated with the quality of life in male schizophrenics rather than those of obesity or hyperlipidemia.

Allergic rhinitis characterization in community pharmacy customers: a cross-sectional study.

Background Allergic rhinitis represents a public health problem that is significantly prevalent in the global population and has been associated with asthma, a strong desire to sleep and a low quality of life. Objective This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, symptoms, control strategies and treatment, as well as the control of this condition and its impact on the quality of life of customers of community pharmacies with allergic rhinitis. Setting A questionnaire survey was carried out in nine community pharmacies in the city of Guarda, Portugal. Method In this cross-sectional study, data was collected by an interview between May 2014 and December 2014. The control of the illness and the impact of allergic rhinitis on the quality of life were assessed through a CARAT10 test and a WHOQOL-BREF instrument, respectively. Main outcome measure The impact of allergic rhinitis on the patient's quality of life. Results The estimated prevalence of allergic rhinitis was between 10.8% and 15.4%, from which 63 and 42 individuals were medically and symptomatically diagnosed, respectively, from a study population of 804 respondents. The majority of participants (57.1%) suffered from the symptoms more than twice a year. The symptoms, such as difficulty in falling asleep, repeated and continuous sneezing and bilateral nasal obstruction, were severe. There were patients with uncontrolled allergic rhinitis symptoms after the CARAT10 test, even when the individual's perception of the quality of life was good according to the WHOQOL-BREF score, with gender differences in the psychological domain. It should also be emphasized that there was a significant association between higher education levels with better control of the illness/quality of life. Additionally, most participants used pharmacological treatment (not alternative therapies) and the adoption of self-management measures to relieve their symptoms. Conclusions The findings of this study showed that the estimated prevalence of allergic rhinitis seems to be apparently lower in Guarda than that found in the general Portuguese population. From the data, some patients showed uncontrolled allergic rhinitis symptoms, strengthening the importance of the role of intervention by a health professional.

Quality of life and clinical outcomes in bipolar disorder: An 8-year longitudinal study

ObjectivesThis longitudinal study examined the relationship of Quality of Life (QOL) throughout an 8-year follow-up period with baseline and longitudinal clinical variables indicative of outcome in patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD). Methods36 participants, ages 18–70, were recruited from the Bipolar Disorder Research Program (PROMAN) outpatient clinic. Participants completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire in 2009 (baseline), 2015 (6-years) and 2017 (8-years), with high scores being associated with better quality of life. Baseline clinical variables were collected through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) and a structured baseline interview for demographic and clinical assessment. Longitudinal clinical variables were collected through medical records, including mood charts and mood symptoms scales. ResultsThe results suggest that the QoL, as measured by the WHOQOL-BREF scale, is negatively affected by depressive episodes and is rather stable throughout the course of patients diagnosed with BD. In our study, all three scores were negatively correlated to depressive episodes, and one WHOQOL-BREF score was positively correlated to manic episodes, suggesting that higher scores, both at baseline and throughout the course of the disorder, may be associated to a higher occurrence of manic episodes, while lower QoL scores may be predictive of a higher occurrence of depressive episodes. Also, all three scores revealed significant positive correlations between themselves, suggesting QoL, as measured by the WHOQOL-BREF, remained constant throughout the 8-year observed period. Finally, patients presenting Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse comorbidities revealed consistent lower WHOQOL-BREF scores, suggesting that these comorbidities may be an important predictor of QoL in BD patients.

Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Behçet's Disease using the Persian Version of the Leeds BD-QoL Questionnaire.

Background: Behçet’s disease (BD) can negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of the affected patients. The present study aimed to assess the QoL of BD patients using the Leeds BD-QoL and compare its results with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 179 BD patients and 304 healthy individuals (the control group) were recruited in Shiraz, 2017. The Persian version of the Leeds BD-QoL and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires were used to assess the QoL of patients with BD. The QoL in the patient and control groups was compared after controlling the effect of some variables (age, sex, marital status, and educational level) using the multiple linear regression analysis. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated for the Leeds BD-QoL and WHOQOL-BREF scores. Disease activity was measured using the Behçet’s Disease Current Activity Form. All the statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 21.0). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean of the Leeds BD-QoL total score in the patient group was 12.3±8.7. The control group had significantly higher scores in the WHOQOL-BREF total score and the physical health and psychological health domains compared with the patient group; mean difference of 10.24, 10.8, and 4.62, respectively (P<0.001). The Spearman’s correlation coefficient for the Leeds BD-QoL score and WHOQOL-BREF total score and its domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) was -0.669, -0.713, -0.714, -0.536, and -0.550, respectively. The disease activity score was correlated with the Leeds BD-QoL score (r=0.361, P<0.001).Conclusion: BD patients had a lower QoL than healthy individuals, specifically in the physical health and psychological health domains. An increase in disease activity and severity was associated with a reduced QoL. The Persian version of the Leeds BD-QoL questionnaire had an acceptable correlation with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.

Assessment and reliability of the World Health Organisation quality of life (WHO QOL-BREF) questionnaire in total hip replacement patients

BackgroundSeveral functional scoring tools are available to evaluate the outcomes of total hip replacements (THRs) for diseased or damaged hips. Majority of these scores were devised in western countries and their cross-cultural compatibilities are rarely demonstrated. The World Health Organisation quality of life (WHO QOL-BREF) questionnaire with 4 domains, is one of the best known multilingual instruments for such assessment. Its reliability has never been demonstrated for THRs and the present study was conceptualised for the same. MethodsTHRs done over 6 years were followed up retrospectively. Revision THRs and hemiarthroplasties were excluded. All the cases were done by a single senior arthroplasty surgeon. Clinical examination was done and questionnaires for WHO QOL-BREF and Harris Hip scores were given to the patients. ResultsThe number of patients included in the study was 96 with 115 operated hips. The average age of these patients was 41.40 years ranging from 17 to 80 years. There was strong male preponderance in our series of patients with 90 THRs. The mean score of domain 1 was 70.8 (SD 21.6), domain 2: 72.4 (SD 18.8), domain 3: 74.7 (SD 16.8) and domain 4: 75.4 (SD 14.8); showed significant functional improvement post THR in domain 2 (P = 0.0001), domain 3 (P = 0.0010) and domain 4(P = 0.0001), when compared to scores of general healthy population. Similarly, the scores were significantly improved in all domains as compared to cohorts of post-operative acetabular and hip fractures. The score was found to be a reliable tool with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.912 and strong correlation was present with the standard Harris hip scores (p = 0.000). ConclusionWHO QOL-BREF is a potent tool to assess the quality of life in patients undergoing THRs. It can be used as a single index of measurement and it is simple, reproducible and reliable.

The influence of educational level in peri-menopause syndrome and quality of life among Chinese women

Objective: To investigate the influence of education level in the peri-menopausal symptoms and quality of life (QoL) among Chinese women.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1632 peri-menopausal women (age 40–60 y) who visited Hangzhou Women’s Hospital from November 2018 to November 2019. The menopausal symptoms were evaluated by modified Kupperman index (KI). World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to evaluate the QoL.Result: In total, 1501 women were included in the analysis. The mean age of natural menopause was 49.63 years in China. The five most frequent symptoms in menopausal women were Hot flash (75.53%), sexual problems (72.62%), insomnia (67.29%), fatigue (65.56%), and irritability (61.89%). Natural menopausal age, parity, BMI, bone mineral density, depression, skin formication, total score of KI, and the score of WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire were different in different educational background women (p < .05).Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that education level is associated with the age of natural menopause and menopausal symptoms. A high educational level is correlated with a better score of WHOQOL-BREF in peri-menopause women.

The effect of a mental health promotion program on Korean firefighters.

There is worldwide interest in the mental health of firefighters, since they are more prone to exposure to traumatic stress and psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to assess their mental health and provide individualized support to local firefighters through a mental health promotion program. Eighteen hundred and fifty-nine active Korean firefighters in 2015 and 2017 (502 and 1,357, respectively) participated in the 'Visiting Counselling Centre for Firefighters' program commissioned by the National Fire Agency. The program consisted of self-administered questionnaires, a group education session, an individual counseling session for every participant, four counseling sessions for certain participants and additional brief intensive counseling (BIC). We administered the Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist (PCL), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation (BSS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-K) and the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) before and after the program. Additional analysis was performed to determine whether BIC participation further improved the psychopathological outcome. The participants showed meaningful improvement in all psychopathological scales; the PCL, BDI, BAI, BSS, ISI, AUDIT-K and WHOQOL-BREF scores all significantly improved. Meanwhile, BIC participation improved certain psychopathological symptoms at a higher degree; the BDI, BAI, BSS and AUDIT-K scores significantly improved. The mental health promotion program improved the mental health of the participating active firefighters in Korea. Meanwhile, BIC participation improved certain psychopathological symptoms at a higher degree. A comprehensive approach for supporting the mental health of firefighters should be considered.

Mosapride Improves Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Esophageal Body Function in Patients With Minor Disorders of Esophageal Peristalsis.

Background/AimsHigh-resolution manometry (HRM) has broadened the awareness of minor esophageal peristaltic disorders. However, the treatments for these minor disorders are limited and the role of prokinetics has been controversial. This study evaluates the effect of mosapride in patients with minor peristaltic disorders.MethodsThis study prospectively enrolled 21 patients with esophageal symptoms who were diagnosed with minor peristaltic disorders by gastroscopy and HRM using the Chicago classification version 3.0. Patients received mosapride 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Symptoms were assessed using the abbreviated World Health Organization quality of life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and a HRM study was performed before and after 2 weeks of treatment.ResultsHRM metrics of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) respiratory mean pressure (median 14.6 mmHg vs 17.3 mmHg; interquartile range [IQR] 8.7-22.5 mmHg vs 12.5-25.9 mmHg; P = 0.004) and distal contractile integral (median 343.8 mmHg·sec·cm vs 698.1 mmHg·sec·cm; IQR 286.5-795.9 mmHg·sec·cm vs 361.0-1127.6 mmHg·sec·cm; P = 0.048) were significantly increased after treatment. Complete response (≥ 80.0%), satisfactory response (≥ 50.0%), partial response (< 50.0%), and refractory response rates were 19.0%, 52.4%, 14.3%, and 14.3%, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference in all WHOQOL-BREF scores before and after treatment. Univariate analysis showed LES respiratory mean pressure (P = 0.036) was associated with symptom improvement (complete + satisfactory group). However, no statistical difference was found in other factors after multivariate analysis.ConclusionsMosapride improved esophageal symptoms and significantly increased LES respiratory mean pressure and distal contractile integral. Therefore, mosapride could enhance LES and esophageal body contraction pressures in patients with minor peristaltic disorders.