Gender difference in quality of life (QoL) among outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care setting

Abstract Background Patients with mental illness report lower quality of life (QoL) compared to the general population. Prior research has found several differences in clinical features and experiences of male and female patients with schizophrenia. Given these differences, it is also important to explore if there are any gender differences in terms of their QoL. This study aimed to investigate differences in QoL between and within each gender among outpatients with schizophrenia in Singapore. Methods A total of 140 outpatients were recruited through convenience sampling at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. QoL was measured using the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) which consists of four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. QoL scores of males and females were compared using independent t-tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to examine sociodemographic correlates of QoL in the overall sample and within each gender. Results There was no significant difference in QoL domain scores between genders. Among males, Indian ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=3.03, p=0.018) while males having Technical Education/ Diploma/ A level education (versus Degree and above) were positively associated with social relationships domain (β=2.46, p=0.047). Among females, Malay ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=1.95, p=0.026) psychological health (β=3.21, p=0.001) social relationships (β=2.17, p=0.048) and environment (β=2.69, p=0.006) domains, while females who were separated/divorced (versus single) were inversely associated with psychological health (β=− 2.80, p=0.044) and social relationships domains (β=− 4.33, p=0.011). Females who had Secondary and below education (versus Degree and above) were inversely associated with social relationships (β=− 2.29, p=0.028) and environment domains (β=− 1.79, p=0.048). Conclusions The findings show the importance of treatments targeting QoL to attend to both the clinical features of the illness as well patient’s sociodemographic characteristics.

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The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on the Quality of Life of Health Care Workers

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1009194/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sadeel Shanshal ◽

Harith Kh. Al-Qazaz

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Psychological Health ◽

World Health ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the entire world and one of its impacts was the increased level of stress and anxiety, especially among healthcare workers. Therefore, this study aims at evaluating the quality of life (QoL) and sleep quality of healthcare professionals in Iraq.Methods: This study assessed the QoL and sleep quality by using World Health Organization Quality of Life Instruments (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) respectively. The questionnaires were administered through an online cross-sectional survey targeted at workers in medical fields in Iraq from 1st to 20th of August 2021. Results: Three hundred medical health workers participated, and females constituted 75.3%. The two questionnaires had very good internal consistency. The highest scoring domain was the social relationships, followed by physical health. Significant difference was found in the mean scores of psychological health domain between males and females, with higher scores observed in males. The mean of the total ISI score was 11.58 ± 6.88 with a range between 0 and 27. Severe insomnia was observed in only 9.7% of the participants. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.118) was found between age and ISI scores of the participants. Significant differences were found between males and females with higher ISI mean score observed among males. Conclusion: The quality of life and sleep pattern can be impacted by COVID-19 infection with the psychological aspect of QoL being the most affected and some degrees of insomnia being observed in many participants.

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Impact of a program to promote health and quality of life of elderly

Einstein (São Paulo) ◽

10.1590/s1679-45082011ao1759 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 8-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Silvia Affini Borsoi Tamai ◽

Sergio Márcio Pacheco Paschoal ◽

Julio Litvoc ◽

Adriana Nunes Machado ◽

Pedro Kallas Curiati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Psychological Health ◽

The Elderly ◽

World Health ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Physical Domain ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Quality Of Life Scale

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect on quality of life of elderly people enrolled in GAMIA – Multidisciplinary Care Group to Outpatient Elderly Subjects (Grupo de Assistência Multidisciplinar ao Idoso Ambulatorial) of the Geriatric Department, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Methods: Between 2000 and 2002, 83 elderly participants of GAMIA were assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-bref) at the beginning and the end of the program. Functionality was assessed by Katz and Lawton scales and sociodemographic data were obtained from medical charts. Results: Females predominated (79.5%) and overall mean age was 69.30 years. Data analysis showed a reduction in the physical domain of WHOQOL-bref (p = 0.014) and increased psychological health and environment domains (p = 0.029 and p = 0.007, respectively), detecting a trend of increase in social relationships and in general domains (p = 0.062 and p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusions: The clinical evaluation of the elderly detected previously unknown diseases and determination of the use of new drugs, which might have been the predominant factor for the deterioration of their perception in the physical domain. Improvement in psychological health and the environment can be related to psychological and social support that the elderly received from peers and professionals and the benefits of group activities, as well as the upward trend observed in social relationships and general domains. Participation in a program to promote healthy aging was effective in improving the quality of life of the elderly.

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Quality of life of older Chilean subjects living in metropolitan Santiago, Chile. Influence of socioeconomic status

Ageing Research ◽

10.4081/ar.2012.e3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 3 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel Bunout ◽

Paulina Osorio ◽

Gladys Barrera ◽

María José Torrejón ◽

Cynthia Meersohn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older People ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Psychological Health ◽

World Health ◽

Health Concern ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Older Subjects

Quality of life (QOL) of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate socioeconomic and individual determinants of QOL of older subjects living in metropolitan Santiago, Chile. We first carried out a qualitative phase with focus groups of older people. According to the conclusions of the focus groups, a questionnaire about QOL was devised and added to the WhoQoL (World Health Organization Quality of Life) and WHOQoL-Old brief questionnarires. The final document with 85 questions was applied to healthy older subjects living in the community. A total of 1,676 subjects aged 71.8±7.4 years (1,189 women) took part in the survey. A multiple stepwise regression model showed that a higher socioeconomic level, a better educational level, performing voluntary work, having a partner, participating in groups with other older people, and being younger were factors independently associated with a higher QOL. A principal components analysis showed that psychological health and social relationships were the main domains that explained the total quality of life score. Psychological health and social relationships were the main determinants of QOL in this sample of older Chilean people living in metropolitan Santiago.

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Psychometric Properties of the WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire for the Norwegian General Population

Journal of Nursing Measurement ◽

10.1891/jnum.2004.12.2.147 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 147-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Berit R. Hanestad ◽

Tone Rustøen ◽

Øistein Knudsen, ◽

Anners Lerdal ◽

Astrid K. Wahl

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Population ◽

Physical Health ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Domain Structure ◽

Social Relationships ◽

World Health ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Component Solution

In 1994, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Group developed the procedure (the WHOQOL 100) to measure quality of life in healthy and ill persons from diverse cultures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a 26-item version of the WHOQOL 100, the WHOQOL-BREF, when applied to the Norwegian general population. The questionnaire was sent to 4,000 randomly selected Norwegian citizens aged 19 to 81 years. The response rate was 48.5%. Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .60 in the social relationships domain to .84 in the physical health domain. Factor analysis resulted in a four-component solution partly supporting the established domain structure. Multiple regression analysis with sex, age, education, cohabitation and self-reported disease as independent variables explained 28%, 8%, 4%, and 15% of the variance for the physical health, psychological, social relationships and environmental domains, respectively. Self-reported disease was the strongest factor. The results appear to be promising regarding scaling qualities, discriminative power, and domain structure.

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Quality of Life among University Students with Premenstrual Syndrome

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1688709 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (05) ◽

pp. 312-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fernanda Figueira Victor ◽

Ariani Impieri Souza ◽

Cynthia Danúbia Tavares Barreiros ◽

João Lucas Nunes de Barros ◽

Flavia Anchielle Carvalho da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

University Students ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Premenstrual Syndrome ◽

Short Form ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Significant Difference

Objective To evaluate the quality of life among university students with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde, in Recife, Brazil, between August 2016 and July 2017. Sociodemographic, gynecological, and lifestyle variables, and PMS occurrence, were investigated among 642 students. The short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL Bref) questionnaire was used to evaluate four domains of the quality of life of the students: physical, mental, social relationships, and environmental. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' criteria were used to define PMS. Results Of the 642 students, 49.9% had PMS, 23.3% had mild PMS and 26.6% had premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Most of the students were between 18 and 24 years old, had regular menstrual cycles, and practiced physical activity. Regarding the physical and mental domains of the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire, a statistically significant difference was observed between the students who did not have and those who had mild or PMDD (p < 0.001). A difference was also found between the students who did not have PMS and those who had mild PMS in the social relationships (p = 0.001) and environmental domains (p = 0.009). Conclusion Mild PMS and PMDD are prevalent among university students on health-related courses, and the syndrome can affect the students' self-assessment of all the domains of quality of life.

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Quality of life among dually diagnosed and non-substance-using male schizophrenia outpatients

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v19i2.416 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hatice Imer Aras ◽

Menekşe Sıla Yazar ◽

Kürşat Altınbaş

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Outpatient Setting ◽

World Health ◽

Dually Diagnosed ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Axis I

<div class="column">Objective. To assess the quality of life (QoL) in an outpatient setting among male patients dually diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder (SUD), and non-substance-using male schizophrenia patients. Methods. The study was conducted in an outpatient setting with 52 male schizophrenia patients and 49 male schizophrenia patients with SUD comorbidity, who were admitted to Bakirköy Research and Training Hospital between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2010. The patients had been in remission for a minimum of 6 months. The subjects were re-evaluated for the persistence of the diagnosis by using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID I) socio-demographic data form, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) were administered to detect the factors affecting diagnostic stability and clinical course. Results. Schizophrenia patients with no SUD comorbidity had a significantly earlier age of disease onset than the comorbid group. SUD comorbidity in schizophrenia patients leads to increased rates of unemployment and homicidality. WHOQOL-Bref psychological health scores were significantly lower among patients in the comorbidity group. No statistically significant difference was identified between the groups with regard to the PANSS scores. Conclusions. It is necessary to focus on the treatment challenges for schizophrenia patients with SUD comorbidity, such as the provision of treatment in criminal justice settings, in which a high proportion of such patients are found. </div>

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Effectiveness of Treatment of Young Psychotic Patients on Psychotherapeutic Inpatient Unit

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.081 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S265-S265

Author(s):

B. Restek-Petrovic ◽

A. Bogovic ◽

G. Majda ◽

M. Nina ◽

F. Igor

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Self Esteem ◽

World Health ◽

Psychotic Episode ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Comprehensive Program ◽

First Psychotic Episode ◽

Significant Difference

IntroductionThe psychotherapeutic unit for psychotic patients in Psychiatric hospital Sveti Ivan, Zagreb, Croatia provides psychotherapeutic and psychosocial treatment for mostly young psychotic patients. Psychotherapeutic program has basically psychodynamic frame and patients participate in small and medium groups. Also, they participate in workshops based on cognitive behavioral principles (anti-stigma, self-concept, emotion, relationships, goals, stress), psycho-education, therapeutic community, work and occupational therapy, recreational therapy.AimThe aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of this comprehensive program during hospitalization of individuals with first psychotic episode on psychotherapeutic ward. We evaluated the possible changes during treatment in attitudes towards drugs, in quality of life, insight and self-esteem.MethodsParticipants were 37 individuals with first psychotic episode, average age: 25.1. They fulfilled: Drug attitude inventory (DAI-10), The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), Insight scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale at the beginning of treatment and at discharge from the hospital.ResultsResults show tendency of more positive attitude towards drugs at discharge, as well as tendency of better self-esteem, statistically significant more satisfaction with physical health (P = 0.004), psychological health (P = 0.004) and with environment (P = 0.001), and statistically significant better quality of life (P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in insight.ConclusionDuring psychotherapeutic treatment of individuals with first psychotic episode, positive changes were observed. So, our findings indicate importance of implementing such a comprehensive program in treatment.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Family burden and quality of life of mothers of children and adolescents with mental retardation or borderline mental capacity

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.436 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S192-S192

Author(s):

L. Utas Akhan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Mental Capacity ◽

World Health ◽

Family Burden ◽

Disabled Children ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Family

IntroductionStudies have found that the cognitive function levels of intellectually challenged children add a burden to the family and affect quality of life.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the family burden felt by mothers of children, ages 6–16, whose mental capacity evaluation indicates an IQ of 35–79 to explore the mother's quality of life and discover the factors that yield an impact in this context.AimsThe main objective of this study therefore was to ascertain the family burden and quality of life experienced by the parents of children with mentally retarded or borderline mental capacity.MethodsThe WISC-R test was used in the research to determine the intellectual capacity of children, 6–16 years of age. The sample comprised 131 children and adolescents between the ages 6–16 with IQs in the interval of 35–79 and their mothers. The parents accompanying their children were assessed using the Family Burden Assessment Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument and a sociodemographic questionnaire that was filled out during face-to-face interviews.ResultsThe quality of life of the mothers was found to be average. At the same time, as the IQ level of the children went up, the less the mothers felt they were under a family burden. It was seen that the mothers experienced the most difficulty in the domains of “perception of inadequacy” and “emotional burden.”ConclusionMothers with intellectually disabled children need psychosocial support. Providing all members of the family with counseling services to help them cope with the issues and responsibilities involved in the care of disabled children may make a significant difference in quality of life.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

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Quality of life of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder

Bangladesh Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3329/bjpsy.v29i1.32747 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 18-22

Author(s):

Fahmida Ahmed ◽

Meherunnessa Begum ◽

Md Abdul Wahab ◽

Sayed Kamaluddin Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Psychological Health ◽

World Health ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Health Domain ◽

Quality Of Life Scale

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a severe and debilitating anxiety disorder which causes severely impaired quality of life. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of life of the patients suffering from OCD. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2011 to June 2011 among 46 patients who attended the out-patient department of the National Institute of Mental Health Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh by using purposive sampling technique. A Semi-structured questionnaire, Dhaka University Obsessive Compulsive Scale (DUOCS), World Health Organization Quality of Life-Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder, 4th edition (DSM-IV) were used in each case for this assessment. Results showed that mean age of the patients was (29.07±6.11) years, majority of the respondents (71.7%) were male, 63.0% were unmarried and 34.8% were students. Patients were least satisfied with social domain and patients having only obsession had lower mean score (23.54±1.80) in environmental domain than in patients having both obsession and compulsion (25.15±3.70). OCD patients having major conflict (52.2%) were least satisfied with environmental health domain and patients suffering from OCD for more than ten years (78.3%) had low score than those suffering for less than ten years (21.7%) in overall quality of life domain. Patients having strained family relationship (34.8%) were less satisfied to psychological health domain and patients getting medication (91.3%) had better quality of life in all domains than those getting no medication (8.7%).Bang J Psychiatry June 2015; 29(1): 18-22

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Comparison of Quality and Lifestyle in Women with and Without Uterine Leiomyoma Referred to Gynecology Clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018

Shiraz E-Medical Journal ◽

10.5812/semj.100815 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol In Press (In Press) ◽

Author(s):

Mahnaz Zarshenas ◽

Mozhgan Sorkhenezhad ◽

Marzieh Akbarzadeh

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Uterine Leiomyoma ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

World Health ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Background: Uterine leiomyomas are considered as a major source of complications and the most common cause of hysterectomy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life in women with and without uterine leiomyoma referred to gynecology clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 126 patients who referred to the clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected and divided into equal groups according to uterine leiomyoma, 1 - 7 cm uterine leiomyoma group and non-uterine leiomyoma group by convenience sampling. The World Health Organization Quality of Life and Healthy Lifestyle questionnaires were used for data collection. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean quality of life of women with uterine leiomyoma was 47.20 ± 12.41 and women without uterine leiomyoma had a significant difference (51.11 ± 11.23, t = 3.93, P = 0.041). The mean lifestyle of women with uterine leiomyoma was 114.18 ± 25.48 and women without uterine leiomyoma had 149.11 ± 23.81 (t = 4.01, P = 0.029). Conclusions: The mean score of quality of life and lifestyle were significantly different in women with and without uterine leiomyoma. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the quality of life of women by improving their lifestyle and providing psychological counseling.

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