scholarly journals Personalized Information Services for Quality of Life: The Case of Airborne Pollen Induced Symptoms

2011 ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Voukantsis ◽  
Kostas Karatzas ◽  
Siegfried Jaeger ◽  
Uwe Berger
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Information Services

scholarly journals How Do Mobile Information Services Improve Quality of Life? The Case of Japanese Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (06) ◽  
pp. 1750002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qazi Mahdia Ghyas ◽  
Fumiyo N. Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Home Healthcare ◽  
Mobile Users ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Life Domains ◽  
Mobile Information ◽  
Mobile Information Services

Every technology should be geared to improve the quality of users’ lives. Our study aims to understand how mobile information services (MIS) contribute to quality of life (QoL) for young mobile users. This paper attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of relationship between two variables: the contribution of MIS in 15 specific life domains and the contribution of MIS to overall quality of life (QoL). We examined bottom-up spillover theory with original and our additional life domains. Eleven life domains derived from previous research include: leisure life, family life, friend life, cultural life, work life, community life, consumer life, financial life, health life, safety life, and self-life. Our proposed four life domains are: home-healthcare life, informational life, educational life and trustworthy life. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in Japan among young mobile users. We analyzed the data of 189 effective respondents. Results from this study clearly indicate that two variables (individual contribution and overall contribution) are valid and reliable to analyze. Contribution to the informational life has the highest influence on the overall contribution for Japanese young, followed by culture life, friend life, leisure life, educational life and work life.

Engaging in Change: New Mindsets for Today's Dynamic Environment

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
Jo Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mobile Communications ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Service Development ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Customer Expectations ◽  
The World

The article describes the changes in skills needed by library and information workers in order to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving environment. Globalization and new technology have changed customer expectations radically and information services must change in order to meet new needs while maintaining quality of service. The author identifies fourteen new skills and aptitudes required by information managers if their services are to maintain their relevance in the world of mobile communications and the Internet. These include the ability to share their vision of how a service will operate in the future, to build an organization that embraces change, and to put the customer at the centre of service development. Only by learning and implementing these skills can managers ensure that information services make the most of the unprecedented opportunities for innovation and enrichment of the quality of life that technology provides.

scholarly journals Rationale and Design of a Panel Study Investigating Six Health Effects of Airborne Pollen: The EPOCHAL Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Bürgler ◽  
Sarah Glick ◽  
Karin Hartmann ◽  
Marloes Eeftens
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Pollen Concentration ◽  
Health Domains

Background: While airborne pollen is widely recognized as a seasonal cause of sneezing and itchy eyes, its effects on pulmonary function, cardiovascular health, sleep quality, and cognitive performance are less well-established. It is likely that the public health impact of pollen may increase in the future due to a higher population prevalence of pollen sensitization as well as earlier, longer, and more intense pollen seasons, trends attributed to climate change. The effects of pollen on health outcomes have previously been studied through cross-sectional design or at two time points, namely preceding and within the period of pollen exposure. We are not aware of any observational study in adults that has analyzed the dose-response relationship between daily ambient pollen concentration and cardiovascular, pulmonary, cognitive, sleep, or quality of life outcomes. Many studies have relied on self-reported pollen allergy status rather than objectively confirming pollen sensitization. In addition, many studies lacked statistical power due to small sample sizes or were highly restrictive with their inclusion criteria, making the findings less transferable to the “real world.”Methods: The EPOCHAL study is an observational panel study which aims to relate ambient pollen concentration to six specific health domains: (1) pulmonary function and inflammation; (2) cardiovascular outcomes (blood pressure and heart rate variability); (3) cognitive performance; (4) sleep; (5) health-related quality of life (HRQoL); and (6) allergic rhinitis symptom severity. Our goal is to enroll 400 individuals with diverse allergen sensitization profiles. The six health domains will be assessed while ambient exposure to pollen of different plants naturally varies. Health data will be collected through six home nurse visits (at approximately weekly intervals) as well as 10 days of independent tracking of blood pressure, sleep, cognitive performance, HRQoL, and symptom severity by participants. Through repeated health assessments, we aim to uncover and characterize dose-response relationships between exposure to different species of pollen and numerous acute health effects, considering (non-)linearity, thresholds, plateaus and slopes.Conclusion: A gain of knowledge in pollen-health outcome relationships is critical to inform future public health policies and will ultimately lead toward better symptom forecasts and improved personalized prevention and treatment.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

Misophonia: An Evidence-Based Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690
Author(s):  
C. S. Vanaja ◽  
Miriam Soni Abigail
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Case History ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Management Option ◽  
Pure Tone Audiogram

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.

Quality of Life of Youth With Hearing Loss

ASHA Leader ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (15) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Anne Skalicky ◽  
Brenda Schick ◽  
Donald Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hearing Loss

Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Language Intervention ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Total Communication ◽  
Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

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