Quality of life and psychosocial distress in young women with advanced breast cancer.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20508-e20508
Author(s):  
Davinia Shien Seah ◽  
Shari Gelber ◽  
Kathryn Jean Ruddy ◽  
Rulla M. Tamimi ◽  
Lidia Schapira ◽  
...  

e20508 Background: Little is known about the quality of life (QOL), prevalence and predictors of psychosocial distress in young women with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Methods: As part of an ongoing longitudinal multi-center study of women aged < 40 with newly diagnosed breast cancer, we identified women with ABC. Using baseline survey and medical chart data, we assessed QOL (measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 [SF-36], with norm based means [NBM] <47 indicating a clinically meaningful worsening QOL compared to the general population), and evaluated relationships between demographic and clinical variables and psychosocial distress (measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], with higher scores indicating more distress). Demographic and clinical factors were tested in univariate models. Factors with a p < 0.2 were evaluated in multivariate models to determine factors associated with anxiety or depression (HADS subscale scores >11). Results: Of the 725 women who completed a baseline survey, 40 had ABC. Median age of ABC diagnosis was 37 (range 23-40). Median time between diagnosis and survey completion was 143 days. Other than general health (NBM 56.8) and role limitations due to emotional problems (NBM 53.8), SF-36 subscale scores of young women with ABC were lower compared to the general population, especially, bodily pain (NBM 27.4), social functioning (NBM 33.5) and mental health (NBM 44.3) scores. Physical and mental component summary NBM scores were 44.3 and 45.8 respectively. 30% (12/40) were anxious and 10% (4/40) were depressed according to HADS. The 4 depressed women also met criteria for anxiety. Women who were more financially comfortable were less anxious (OR 0.07, p=0.04). Logistic regression identified no other factors associated with anxiety, and no factors were associated with depression. Conclusion: QOL is impaired in young women with recently diagnosed ABC, particularly from bodily pain and disruption to social functioning. Many young ABC patients are anxious, while few are depressed. This study will be expanded to include young women who progressed to ABC. Further research is warranted to evaluate interventions to improve QOL and psychosocial distress in this population.

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan R. Bloom ◽  
Susan L. Stewart ◽  
Monica Johnston ◽  
Priscilla Banks

Hand Surgery ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 103-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izuru Kitajima ◽  
Kazureru Doi ◽  
Yasunori Hattori ◽  
Semih Takka ◽  
Emmanuel Estrella

To evaluate the subjective satisfaction of brachial plexus injury (BPI) patients after surgery based on the medical outcomes study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) and to correlate their SF-36 scores with upper extremity functions. Four items were assessed statistically for 30 patients: SF-36 scores after BPI surgery were compared with Japanese standard scores; the correlation between SF-36 scores and objective joint functions; difference in SF-36 scores between each type of BPI; and influence of each joint function on the SF-36 scores. The SF-36 subscale: PF — physical functioning, RP — role-physical, BP — bodily pain, and the summary score PCS — physical component summary, were significantly inferior to the Japanese standard scores. SF-36 is more sensitive to shoulder joint function than to elbow and finger joint functions. Little correlation was found between SF-36 scores and objective evaluations of joint functions. Greater effort is needed to improve the quality of life (QOL) of BPI patients. This study showed that SF-36 is not sensitive enough to evaluate regional conditions. A region- or site-specific questionnaire is required to evaluate upper extremity surgery.


2006 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Renata Fernandes ◽  
Luciane B.C. Carvalho ◽  
Gilmar F. Prado

CONTEXT: Hemiparesia changes quality of life of patients with stroke making difficult a normal life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Functional Eletric Orthesis (FEO) applied over the paretic leg in the quality of life of stroke patients. METHOD: The quality of life of 50 stroke patients of Associacao de Assistencia a Crianca Deficiente (AACD) was evaluated with SF-36 questionnaire before and after the treatment with a FEO for rehabilitation of walking. We analyzed data according to gender and affected hemisphere. RESULTS: The average values from all domains of SF-36 improved significantly (p<0.001). Female patients improved more than male in Emotional Domain (p=0.04) and presented a trend to be better regarding Bodily Pain and Social Functioning. Patients with right hemiparesia improved more than those with left hemiparesia (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: FEO over a paretic leg is efficient to improve quality of life of stroke patients, mainly Physical Functioning.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 338-342
Author(s):  
J HA Arnoldus ◽  
J Killestein ◽  
L EMA Pfennings ◽  
B Jelles ◽  
B MJ Uitdehaag ◽  
...  

Objectives: To determine the quality of life (QoL) of MS patients during the initial 6 months of treatment with interferon-b (IFN-b). Furthermore, to determine whether changes in QoL relate to disability, emotional state, therapeutic expectations or side effect profile. Background: IFN-b has been shown to have beneficial effects on the course of MS. Since the aim of IFN-b treatment is not to cure but to slow down the disease it is important to know how this treatment affects QoL. Surprisingly, the impact of treatment with IFN-b on QoL measures has not been extensively studied so far. Methods: Case report documentation, including EDSS, SF-36 and MADRAS scores, of 51 relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with IFN-b was obtained at baseline and at months 1, 3 and 6. Patients also filled in a form about their expectations of therapy and a questionnaire on side effects. Results: During treatment there was a significant linear trend indicating improvement in the role-physical functioning (RPF) scale of the SF-36 (F1,50=4.9, P=0.032). A transient decrease at month 1 was found in the scale for bodily pain, indicating more experienced pain (F1,50=19.8, P50.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with most depressive symptoms on the MADRAS at baseline contributed most to the increase in RPF scores over time (F1,24=5,6 P=0.026). Furthermore, we found associations between adverse event scores and several domains of QoL. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IFN-b therapy has an impact on QoL of MS patients in that it improves role-physical functioning and transiently worsens experienced bodily pain. QoL during treatment with IFN-b is influenced by depressive symptoms at baseline as well as by treatment-associated side-effects.


Author(s):  
Pablo A. Lizana ◽  
Gustavo Vega-Fernadez ◽  
Alejandro Gomez-Bruton ◽  
Bárbara Leyton ◽  
Lydia Lera

Background: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were already reporting a low quality of life (QoL) perception, with a significant impact on mental and physical health due to various stress factors associated with work overload. The objective of this study was to evaluate the QoL impact on Chilean teachers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis was performed following a longitudinal design on a sample of 63 Chilean teachers in pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic timeframes. QoL perception, along with teachers’ sociodemographic data, was evaluated via the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables presented no significant variations in pre-pandemic and pandemic comparisons. QoL, however, showed a significant decrease during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic measurement (p < 0.01). In each gender, there were significant differences between pre-pandemic and pandemic timeframes, with a greater impact among women in the mental and physical component summary variables and seven of the eight QoL scales (p < 0.01). Between age categories, people under 45 presented significant differences (p < 0.05) between pre-pandemic and pandemic timeframes in all summary dimensions and measurements. In conclusion, Chilean teachers’ QoL perception has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings could be related to work overload due to teleworking or feelings of uncertainty, loneliness, and fear that the pandemic and its associated confinements will worsen.


Author(s):  
Wilma M. Hopman ◽  
Helen Coo ◽  
Cathy M. Edgar ◽  
Evelyn V. McBride ◽  
Andrew G. Day ◽  
...  

Background:Much research has gone into the assessment of function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in those with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form (SF-36) has been widely used in this population but current recommendations are that it be supplemented with condition-specific measures such as the MS Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI) and the MS Functional Composite (MSFC). The goal of the baseline component of this study was the measurement of generic and condition-specific HRQOL, and the identification of factors associated with these outcomes.Methods:HRQOL was assessed at the baseline phase of a longitudinal study. Participants completed the assessment during their regularly scheduled clinic visit.Results:300 of 387 eligible patients agreed to participate, for a response rate of 77.5%. Age ranged from 22 to 77 years, while duration of MS ranged from 1 to 47 years. Mean SF-36 scores were well below age- and sex-adjusted normative data. Only 240 completed the MSFC component. Higher EDSS, use of support services, pain medications, clinical depression and antidepressant use were associated with poorer HRQOL, while higher income and education were associated with better HRQOL.Conclusions:There is a substantial burden of illness associated with MS when compared to normative HRQOL data. This was more pronounced in physically- than in mentally-oriented domains. Assessment of HRQOL provides a valuable complement to the EDSS by providing information about the patient perception of function and HRQOL beyond that which can be obtained by physical assessment alone.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Danbee Kang ◽  
Nayeon Kim ◽  
Gayeon Han ◽  
Sooyeon Kim ◽  
Hoyoung Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study aims to identify factors associated with divorce following breast cancer diagnosis and measures the impact of divorce on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Methods We used cross-sectional survey data collected at breast cancer outpatient clinics in South Korea from November 2018 to April 2019. Adult breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment without any cancer recurrence at the time of the survey (N = 4,366) were included. The participants were classified into two groups: “maintaining marriage” and “being divorced,” between at the survey and at the cancer diagnosis. We performed logistic regression and linear regression to identify the factors associated with divorce after cancer diagnosis and to compare the QoL of divorced and nondivorced survivors. Results Approximately 11.1/1,000 of married breast cancer survivors experienced divorce after cancer diagnosis. Younger age, lower education, and being employed at diagnosis were associated with divorce. Being divorced survivors had significantly lower QoL (Coefficient [Coef] = −7.50; 95% CI = −13.63, −1.36), social functioning (Coef = −9.47; 95% CI = −16.36, −2.57), and body image (Coef = −8.34; 95% CI = −6.29, −0.39) than survivors who remained married. They also experienced more symptoms including pain, insomnia, financial difficulties, and distress due to hair loss. Conclusion Identifying risk factors of divorce will ultimately help ascertain the resources necessary for early intervention.


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