Quality of Life in Patients with Benign Nontoxic Goiter: Impact of Disease and Treatment Response, and Comparison with the General Population

Abstract Purpose Quality of life (QoL) has been the subject of increasing interest in oncology. Most examinations of QoL have focused on health-related QoL, while other factors often remain unconsidered. Moreover, QoL questionnaires implicitly assume that the subjective importance of the various QoL domains is identical from one patient to the next. The aim of this study was to analyze QoL in a broader sense, considering the subjective importance of the QoL components. Methods A sample of 173 male urologic patients was surveyed twice: once while hospitalized (t1) and once again 3 months later (t2). Patients completed the Questions on Life Satisfaction questionnaire (FLZ-M), which includes satisfaction and importance ratings for eight dimensions of QoL. A control group was taken from the general population (n = 477). Results Health was the most important QoL dimension for both the patient and the general population groups. While satisfaction with health was low in the patient group, the satisfaction ratings of the other seven domains were higher in the patient group than in the general population. The satisfaction with the domain partnership/sexuality showed a significant decline from t1 to t2. Multiple regression analyses showed that the domains health and income contributed most strongly to the global QoL score at t2 in the patient group. Conclusion Health is not the only relevant category when assessing QoL in cancer patients; social relationships and finances are pertinent as well. Importance ratings contribute to a better understanding of the relevance of the QoL dimensions for the patients.

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Determinants of participation and quality of life of young adults with cerebral palsy: longitudinal approach and comparison with the general population – SPARCLE 3 study protocol

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-021-02263-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Catherine Arnaud ◽

Carine Duffaut ◽

Jérôme Fauconnier ◽

Silke Schmidt ◽

Kate Himmelmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Young Adults ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Young People ◽

General Population ◽

Transition Period ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal Factors ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Effective inclusion in society for young people with disabilities is increasingly seen as generating opportunities for self-development, and improving well-being. However, significant barriers remain in the vast majority of activities meaningful for young adults. Research argues that various personal (disabilities, health) and environmental (access to the resources needed, accessible environment, discrimination, lack of personal economic independence) factors contribute to limited participation. However, previous studies conducted in young people with cerebral palsy (CP) mainly investigated the transition period to adulthood, and did not fully consider the whole range of impairment severity profiles or environmental barriers. In this study, we will use the follow-up of the SPARCLE cohort and a comparison group from the general population (1) to investigate the impact of the environment on participation and quality of life of young adults with CP, (2) to determine predictors of a successful young adulthood in educational, professional, health and social fields, (3) to compare quality of life and frequency of participation in social, work and recreational activities with the general population, (4) to document on participation and quality of life in those with severe disabilities. Methods The SPARCLE3 study has a combined longitudinal and cross-sectional design. Young adults with CP aged 22 to 27 years in 6 European regions previously enrolled in the SPARCLE cohort or newly recruited will be invited to self-complete a comprehensive set of questionnaires exploring participation (daily life and discretionary activities), health-related quality of life, body function, personal factors (health, personal resources), and contextual factors (availability of needed environmental items, family environment, services provision) during home visits supervised by trained researchers. Proxy-reports or adapted questionnaires will be used for those with the most severe impairments. The recruitment of a large group from the general population (online survey) will enable to identify life areas where the discrepancies between young people with CP and their able-bodied peers are the most significant. Discussion This study will help identify to what extent disabilities and barriers in environment negatively affect participation and quality of life, and how previous valued experiences during childhood or adolescence might modulate these effects.

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Health-Related Quality of Life in Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11101500 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1500 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rebecca V. Steenaard ◽

Laura A. Michon ◽

Harm R. Haak

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Population ◽

Adrenocortical Carcinoma ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Clinical Aspects ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Insight into the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is important. The disease and its treatment options potentially have an impact on HRQoL. For patients with limited survival, HRQoL research is of utmost importance. We will therefore provide an overview of HRQoL studies in patients with ACC. We found six studies that measured HRQoL in 323 patients with ACC (3 cross-sectional, 1 cohort, 2 trials), all indicating a reduced HRQoL compared to the general population. The FIRMACT trial found that HRQoL of patients with ACC was reduced compared to the general population, and that chemotherapy-mitotane further reduced HRQoL even though survival improved. Clinical aspects of the disease, including cortisol and aldosterone production and adrenal insufficiency have shown great impact on HRQoL in benign disease, even after the recovery of hormonal status. However, the impact of malignant adrenal disease and treatment options on HRQoL including adrenalectomy, radiotherapy, mitotane therapy, and chemotherapy have not been sufficiently studied in patients with ACC. Although the number of HRQoL studies in patients with ACC is limited, the existing literature does indicate that ACC has a large impact on patients’ HRQoL, with disease specific aspects. Further HRQoL research in patients with ACC is essential to improve patient-centered care, preferably by using an ACC-specific HRQoL questionnaire.

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The Identification of Attention Complaints in the General Population and Their Effect on Quality of Life

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054709347260 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 46-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dymphie M. J. M. Scholtissen-In de Braek ◽

Petra P. M. Hurks ◽

Martin P. J. van Boxtel ◽

Jeanette B. Dijkstra ◽

Jelle Jolles

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Population

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Fears, beliefs, and quality of life of patients with cancer vs the general population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Lombardy

Tumori Journal ◽

10.1177/03008916211022848 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030089162110228

Author(s):

Carla Ida Ripamonti ◽

Giacomo Massa ◽

Daniela Insolvibile ◽

Mauro Guglielmo ◽

Guido Miccinesi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Population ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Well Being ◽

Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Fear Of Cancer

Aim: To understand how patients with cancer reacted to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and whether their quality of life (QoL) was affected. Methods: In June 2020, 111 patients with cancer treated in the supportive care unit of a Comprehensive Cancer Center in Milan and 201 healthy controls from the general population were enrolled and assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively for fears and COVID-19–related beliefs as well as for QoL. Results: Fear of COVID-19 was significantly lower among patients (41% vs 57.6%; p = 0.007), as was fear of cancer (61.5% vs 85.6%; p < 0.001) and other diseases. The perceived risk of getting COVID-19 was lower among patients (25.2% vs 52.7%; p < 0.001), as was the belief of having been exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (18.1% vs 40.8%; p < 0.001). The physical component of QoL was better among the population (54.5 vs 43.8; p < 0.001); the reverse was true for patients’ psychological well-being (44.6 vs 39.6; p < 0.001). The qualitative data supported such results, showing a reduced psychological effect on the patients with cancer compared to the controls. Various reasons explain this result, including the awareness of being treated for cancer and nevertheless protected against getting infected in a cancer center of public health reorganized to continue treating patients by protecting them and personnel from the risk of infection. Conclusions: The experience of a cancer diagnosis, together with proper hospital reorganization, may act as protective factors from fears and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Health-related quality of life using the SF-36 in patients with bipolar disorder compared with patients with chronic back pain and the general population

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/s0165-0327(99)00042-7 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (1-3) ◽

pp. 235-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Lesley M Arnold ◽

Kathryn A Witzeman ◽

Michael L Swank ◽

Susan L McElroy ◽

Paul E Keck Jr

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Back Pain ◽

General Population ◽

Chronic Back Pain ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Quality of Life in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Comparison with Fibromyalgia and the General Population

Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain ◽

10.1300/j094v11n01_06 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 31-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Olle Hägg ◽

Carol Burckhardt ◽

Peter Fritzell ◽

Anders Nordwall

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

General Population ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Low Back

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Advances in critical care for the older patient

Reviews in Clinical Gerontology ◽

10.1017/s0959259812000226 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 118-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Diane Monkhouse

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Critical Care ◽

Critical Illness ◽

General Population ◽

Acute Illness ◽

Limited Resources ◽

Care Practice ◽

Older Patient ◽

Life Sustaining Treatment

SummaryAs the proportion of elderly people in the general population increases, so does the number admitted to critical care. In caring for an older patient, the intensivist has to balance the complexities of an acute illness, pre-existing co-morbidities and patient preference for life-sustaining treatment with the chances of survival, quality of life after critical illness and rationing of expensive, limited resources. This remains one of the most challenging areas of critical care practice.

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