Impact of Pets in the Quality of Life and the Attachment Patterns of Puerto Rican Family Members

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gonzalez
Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Esme Brittain ◽  
Nina Muirhead ◽  
Andrew Y. Finlay ◽  
Jui Vyas

Background and objectives: To explore the impacts that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has on the patient and their family members using the WHOQOL-BREF (Abbreviated World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire) and FROM-16 (Family Reported Outcome Measure-16) quality of life assessments. Materials and Methods: A quantitative research study using postal questionnaires was conducted. A total of 39 adult volunteers expressed an interest in participating in the study: 24 returned appropriately completed questionnaires. Patients with ME/CFS completed the WHOQOL-BREF and up to four of their family members completed the FROM-16 questionnaire. Results: ME/CFS negatively affects the quality of life of the patient (median scores WHOQOL-BREF: Physical health = 19, Psychological = 44, Social relationships = 37.5, Environment = 56, n = 24) and their family members’ quality of life (FROM-16: Emotional = 9.5, Personal and social = 11.5, Overall = 20.5, n = 42). There was a significant correlation between the patient’s reported quality of life scores and their family members’ mean FROM-16 total scores. Conclusions: This study identifies the major impact that having an adult family member with ME/CFS has on the lives of partners and of other family members. Quality of life of ME/CFS patients was reduced most by physical health compared to the other domains. Quality of life of family members was particularly impacted by worry, family activities, frustration and sadness. This highlights the importance of measuring the impact on the lives of family members using tools such as the FROM-16 in the ME/CFS clinical encounter and ensuring appropriate support is widely available to family members.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Shah ◽  
F. M. Ali ◽  
A. Y. Finlay ◽  
M. S. Salek

Abstract Background A person’s chronic health condition or disability can have a huge impact on the quality of life (QoL) of the whole family, but this important impact is often ignored. This literature review aims to understand the impact of patients' disease on family members across all medical specialities, and appraise existing generic and disease-specific family quality of life (QoL) measures. Methods The databases Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, ASSIA, PsycINFO and Scopus were searched for original articles in English measuring the impact of health conditions on patients' family members/partner using a valid instrument. Results Of 114 articles screened, 86 met the inclusion criteria. They explored the impact of a relative's disease on 14,661 family members, mostly 'parents' or 'mothers', using 50 different instruments across 18 specialities including neurology, oncology and dermatology, in 33 countries including the USA, China and Australia. These studies revealed a huge impact of patients' illness on family members. An appraisal of family QoL instruments identified 48 instruments, 42 disease/speciality specific and six generic measures. Five of the six generics are aimed at carers of children, people with disability or restricted to chronic disease. The only generic instrument that measures the impact of any condition on family members across all specialities is the Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM-16). Although most instruments demonstrated good reliability and validity, only 11 reported responsiveness and only one reported the minimal clinically important difference. Conclusions Family members' QoL is greatly impacted by a relative's condition. To support family members, there is a need for a generic tool that offers flexibility and brevity for use in clinical settings across all areas of medicine. FROM-16 could be the tool of choice, provided its robustness is demonstrated with further validation of its psychometric properties.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumiko Aruga ◽  
Ayako Saito ◽  
Yuji Aoki

Some patients with severe dysphagia need to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (gastrostomy feeding), which improves nutrition but leads them to feel they are not living like human beings. The KT (Kuchi-kara Taberu, or ingesting orally in Japanese) index was developed in order to comprehensively assess and intervene in problems with eating and swallowing. We present three cases where the KT index improved quality of life after gastrostomy feeding. Through continued nursing care using the KT index, the patient in Case 1 was able to eat orally again; the patient in Case 2 could eat a piece of jelly and communicate a little; and the patient in Case 3 was able to ingest a small amount of food orally, with support from her husband. Thus, the feeding support provided by the KT index radar chart improves quality of life, even after the implementation of gastrostomy feeding. Further studies are needed to investigate how the KT index best helps elderly patients with severe dysphagia live like human beings while taking into account the perspectives of patients and their family members.


2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tainá Maues Peluci Pizzignacco ◽  
Débora Falleiros de Mello ◽  
Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima

Cystic Fibrosis (CF), also known as Mucoviscidosis, is a chronic disease of autosomal recessive origin and so far incurable. This analysis considers some characteristics of patients and family members that indicate it is a stigmatizing disease. The CF stigma’s impact on the lives of children and adolescents can affect treatment adherence, socialization, family relationships and the formation of their life histories, with direct consequences on their quality of life.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Russell Hoverman

The oncology community has found that communication is key to the patient's quality of life, the well-being of family members, hospice enrollment, and costs. The challenge is to make these conversations happen.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Thierry Voisin ◽  
Sandrine Sourdet ◽  
Julien Delrieu ◽  
Bruno Vellas ◽  
◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. AD progression leads to a significant deterioration in cognitive function, resulting in a significant impact not only on patient quality of life but also on the quality of life of family members/care-givers. Some physicians do not feel that diagnosing AD is necessary due to the absence of any cure and the stress related to diagnosis. Nevertheless, it is important to diagnose AD as early as possible. Early diagnosis of AD allows the patient to be more involved in treatment planning, since at this stage the patient’s cognitive function will be near normal. Many forms of the disease do not progress rapidly, and early diagnosis and treatment will allow a good quality of life for the patient, family members and care-givers. The general practitioner has a special role in detecting and following up patients diagnosed with AD.


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