An ethnography exploring the quality of life of people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe: Implications for health service policy and practice

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherphard Chidarikire ◽  
Merylin Cross ◽  
Isabelle Skinner ◽  
Michelle Cleary
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental disorder affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. Although understanding peoples’ experiences of living with an illness is core to assessment, planning and delivering culture specific health care, little is known about the experiences of people living with schizophrenia in resource-poor countries. This article reports on a study that explored the everyday lives of eighteen people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe and its impact on their quality of life. Methods This focused ethnography was conducted over a three-month period in 2015. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, non-participant observational fieldwork, and the short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Interview data were digitally recorded, transcribed and translated from Shona (local language) to English. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to analyse questionnaire data. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using an established framework. Results Survey data indicate internal consistency in the psychological and social relationships domains and poor quality of life for people aged 20-40. The major factors related to quality of life were: age, gender, family dislocation: living with stigma and discrimination; and limited and variable access to treatment and support. Obtaining and paying for antipsychotic medications were challenging and female participants recounted experiencing gender-based stigma. Conclusions Findings from our study suggest that age, gender, family dislocation, stigma, discrimination, and variable limited access to affordable medications and support undermine quality of life by disrupting participants’ ability to function in socially acceptable ways, their sense of belonging and self-worth, and family, work and social relations. Strengthening access to mental health services, addressing the affordability and availability of medications and initiatives to alleviate stigma and promote a sense of belonging, especially for younger adults and women should be a priority for government and health service providers. Further research on managing mental health issues such as schizophrenia in Zimbabwe, should focus on initiatives to strengthen quality of life.

Quality of life measures in schizophrenia

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (S3) ◽  
pp. S313-S317 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bobes ◽  
P. García-Portilla ◽  
P.A. Sáiz ◽  
T. Bascarán ◽  
M. Bousoño
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractThe recognition of the importance of evaluating the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia highlighted the importance ofdeveloping appropriate instruments. In this paper we review the available quality of life instruments focusing on their conceptual framework, structure, administration and psychometric properties. First, we address the generic instruments that have been validated for schizophrenic populations, namely the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL), the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D). Then, we focus on instruments that have been specifically developed for patients with schizophrenia and other or severe mentally illness such as the Quality of Life Scale (QLS), the Quality of Life Interview (QoLI), the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP), the Sevilla Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQLQ), the Personal Evaluation of Transitions in Treatment (PETIT), and the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Schizophrenia (S-QoL).

scholarly journals Associations of Falls with Quality of Life and Correlated Factors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Two-Wave Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yih-Jian Tsai ◽  
Wen-Jung Sun ◽  
Yi-Ching Yang ◽  
Pesus Chou ◽  
Jung-Der Wang
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Abstract Background Falls contribute to disability and burden of care among older adults. Studies of fall-related impacts on quality of life (QOL) are warranted for future prevention interventions. Methods Fall-related data were collected from adults aged 70 years and above using questionnaire interviews in the 1996 and 1999 surveys at Hunei community in southern Taiwan. Their QOL was measured using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) in the 1999 follow-up only. The bilateral relationship among fall category, selected covariates (i.e., age, sex, number of difficulties in performing activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental ADLs, number of comorbidities, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores, Mini-Mental Stated Examination (MMSE) scores, fear of falling, and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores), and mean QOL scores were investigated. Hierarchical linear regression models were tested to examine the associations between fall frequency and QOL with sequential entry of explanatory variables. The final models were established by substituting fall category for fall frequency. Results Fall category was significantly associated with physical-related subscale scores, except body pain. Almost every QOL score revealed a negative association with the number of comorbidities, GDS scores, and fear of falling; however, a positive association with MMSE and PASE scores was observed. Conclusions Future prevention interventions should target common risk factors of both QOL and falls among older people, including control of comorbidities, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and inactivity.

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life of antiretroviral treatment defaulters in Botswana

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnamdi O. Ndubuka ◽  
Hyun J. Lim ◽  
Dirk M. Van der Wal ◽  
Valerie J. Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Defaulting from ART has detrimental consequences, including the development of viral resistance, treatment failure and increased risks of disease progression. Little is known about the quality of life of ART defaulters and reasons for discontinuing their ART.Objectives: This study sought to measure the HRQoL of ART patients in Botswana who were on ART for up to 5 years but had discontinued treatment for at least 3 months, and to identify factors associated with ART defaulting.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 104 eligible respondents in four ART clinics in south eastern Botswana. We assessed respondents’ HRQoL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV short form. Clinical information was obtained from respondents’ medical records. Data were analysed using SAS version 9.2.Results: Reasons for discontinuing ART were inaccessible clinics (22.4%), feeling better (21.4%), running out of pills (11.2%), depression (8.2%), lack of care and/or support (8.2%), failure to understand instructions (7.7%), medications’ side effects (6.1%) and alcohol abuse (3.1%). In multivariate analyses, respondents aged 36–45 years had a 0.03 lower independence HRQoL score compared to those aged 35 and younger (β = -0.03; 95% confidence interval: -1.72, -1.66). Despite defaulting from their ART, respondents’ calculated HRQoL scores wereConclusion: This study highlights the need to enhance ART adherence in order to improve the HRQoL of people living with HIV and/or AIDS.

Alexithyme Patientenmerkmale und Lebensqualität – Eine Querschnittsstudie an 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Leenen ◽  
Michael Rufer ◽  
Hanspeter Moergeli ◽  
Hans-Jörgen Grabe ◽  
Josef Jenewein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Fand Sich ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Tas 20

Aus Untersuchungen in der Normalbevölkerung ist bekannt, dass Menschen mit erhöhten Alexithymiewerten eine verminderte Lebensqualität (LQ) aufweisen. Für Patienten mit psychischen Störungen wurde dieser Zusammenhang jedoch kaum untersucht. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen alexithymen Patientenmerkmalen und der LQ bei Patienten mit Angststörungen zu überprüfen. Bei 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen wurden alexithyme Charakteristika mit der Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), die LQ mit der Kurzversion des World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire 100 (WHOQOL-BREF) erfasst. Darüber hinaus fand eine Erhebung der psychischen Symptombelastung (SCL-90-R) und depressiven Symptomatik (MADRS) statt. Mittels hierarchischer Regressionsanalysen wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der alexithymen Charakteristika und den unterschiedlichen LQ-Domänen berechnet. Die Patienten zeigten eine im Vergleich zur Normalbevölkerung deutlich verminderte LQ. Als Hauptergebnis fand sich, auch nach Kontrolle von Depression, Ängstlichkeit und Geschlecht, ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden TAS-20 Subskalen Schwierigkeiten, Gefühle zu identifizieren und zu beschreiben und vor allem der psychischen LQ. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, bei der Diagnostik und Therapieplanung von Patienten mit Angststörungen alexithyme Merkmale einzubeziehen. Im Falle von ausgeprägten alexithymen Merkmalen sollten psychotherapeutische Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Schwierigkeiten Gefühle wahrzunehmen und zu kommunizieren in Betracht gezogen werden.

scholarly journals Magnesium level correlation with clinical status and quality of life in women with hormone related conditions and pregnancy based on real world data

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Orlova ◽  
Galina Dikke ◽  
Gisele Pickering ◽  
Eliso Djobava ◽  
Sofya Konchits ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
High Response Rate ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractThis study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of magnesium (Mg)-vitamin B 6 replenishment and its correlation with clinical status in pregnant women (PW), and quality of life in women with hormone-related conditions (HRCW) and hypomagnesemia (HME). Data collected in four observational studies were pooled and analysed. All women received Mg supplementation for 4 weeks. The proportion of women with normalized Mg level, and the correlation between serum Mg dynamics and number of symptoms/complaints (PW) or changes in World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire scores (WHOQOL; HRCW) were evaluated. 869 PW and 957 HRCW were included in the study. Normalization of serum Mg level to ≥ 0.66 mmol/L occurred in 92.1% of PW and 78.4% of HRCW, and to ≥ 0.8 mmol/L in 73.8% and 58.9%, respectively. Mg normalization was accompanied by a median decrease of 1 symptom and 1 complaint in PW. Serum Mg level increase by 0.1 mmol/L was associated to significant changes in the WHOQOL scores in HRCW. Treatment of HME with the Mg for approximately 4 weeks provided a high response rate of Mg serum level, was associated with an improvement in symptom severity and complaints in PW, and WHOQOL score in HRCW. A 0.8 mmol/L cut-off appeared to be more relevant in terms of patient-reported outcomes.

scholarly journals Comparison of two assessment instruments of quality of life in older adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Mello dos Santos ◽  
Fernando Neves Hugo ◽  
Andréa Fachel Leal ◽  
Juliana Balbinot Hilgert
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Physical Pain ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Low Magnitude

Objective: To investigate if there is convergent validity between the dimensions of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Version (WHOQOL-Bref) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a random sample of 872 elderly Southern-Brazilians was evaluated. Questionnaires assessing socio-demographic data and quality of life in general (WHOQOL-Bref) and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) were used. Analysis of the WHOQOL-Bref and OHIP-14 questionnaires used descriptive statistics. The dimensions of the WHOQOL-Bref and OHIP-14 questionnaires were correlated by affinity. The convergence between WHOQOL-Bref and OHIP-14 dimensions was analyzed by Spearman’s correlation coefficients. Results: The social relations dimension of the WHOQOL-Bref presented the greatest mean (18.24 ± 2.30). The physical pain dimension of the OHIP-14 presented a median of 1.0 (0.0 – 3.0). All correlations between the WHOQOL-Bref and OHIP-14 dimensions were significant, negative and associated with a low magnitude. The correlation between WHOQOL-physical and OHIP-functional limitation, OHIP-physical pain, OHIP-physical disability and OHIP-handicap were – 0.164, – 0.262, – 0.196 and – 0.125 respectively. WHOQOL-psychological was associated with OHIP-psychological discomfort and OHIP-psychological disability, and WHOQOL-social showed an association with OHIP-social disability. Conclusions: All correlations analyzed had a positive association of low magnitude. Despite the fact that the WHOQOL-Bref and OHIP-14 instruments have related dimensions, they measure physical, psychological and social relations differently.

scholarly journals Workplace Violence Against Chinese Frontline Clinicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Associations With Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and Quality of Life: A Structural Equation Modeling Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yang ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
Ying An ◽  
Yan-Jie Zhao ◽  
Ling Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emotional Disturbances ◽  
World Health ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Background: Workplace violence is a major concern for clinicians worldwide. There has been little data on the epidemiology of workplace violence against frontline clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the pattern of workplace violence and its association with quality of life (QOL) against frontline clinicians during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in China.Methods: A cross-sectional online study was conducted in China between March 15 and March 20, 2020. Frontline clinicians' experience with workplace violence was measured with six standardized questions derived from the Workplace Violence Scale, while anxiety, depressive, and insomnia symptoms, and QOL were measured using the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively. Univariate analyses, multivariable logistic regression analyses, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted.Results: A total of 15,531 clinicians completed the assessment; 2,878 (18.5, 95% CI = 17.92–19.14%) reported workplace violence during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (verbal violence: 16.1%; physical violence: 6.9%). According to multivariable models, key correlates of workplace violence were male gender, longer work experience, higher education level, smoking, working in the psychiatry or emergency department, working in tertiary hospitals, being involved in direct care of infected patients, having infected family/ friends/ colleagues, and frequently using social communication programs. Clinicians working in inpatient departments were less likely to report workplace violence compared to those working in outpatient departments. SEM analysis revealed that both violence and emotional disturbances (anxiety, depression, and insomnia) directly affected QOL (standardized direct effect = −0.031, and −0.566, respectively, P < 0.05), while emotional disturbances partly mediated the association between work violence and QOL (standardized indirect effect = −0.184, P < 0.05).Conclusion: Frontline clinicians were vulnerable to workplace violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the negative impact of workplace violence on quality of care and clinicians' QOL, health authorities and policymakers should take effective measures to reduce workplace violence against clinicians.

scholarly journals Instrumentos de avaliação de qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais: Revisão Integrativa

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prisciane Cardoso Silva ◽  
Marina Soares Mota ◽  
Stella Minasi Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
European Organization ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization

Objetivo: Buscar na literatura instrumentos utilizados para avaliar a qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa realizada no ano de 2019, em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Resultados: Foram encontrados 17 artigos, com sete instrumentos utilizados para avaliar a qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomias intestinais: City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire, Stoma Self-Efficacy Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life abreviado, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Ostomy-specific (Stoma-QoL) e Escala de Qualidade de Vida de Flanagan. Conclusão: Esta revisão permitiu identificar os instrumentos que estão sendo utilizados para avaliar a QV de pessoas com estomias intestinais. Após a análise dos instrumentos, salienta-se que o City of Hope – Quality of Life – Ostomy Questionnaire é o mais abrangente dentre os instrumentos específicos às pessoas com estomias intestinais.

One Year After Mild Injury: Comparison of Health Status and Quality of Life Between Patients with Whiplash Versus Other Injuries

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 528-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Hours ◽  
Inès Khati ◽  
Pierrette Charnay ◽  
Laetitia Chossegros ◽  
Hélène Tardy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Road Accident ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
One Year

Objective.To compare health status, effect on family, occupational consequences, and quality of life (QOL) 1 year after an accident between patients with whiplash versus other mild injuries, and to explore the relationship between initial injury (whiplash vs other) and QOL.Methods.This was a prospective cohort study. The study used data from the ESPARR cohort (a representative cohort of road accident victims) and included 173 individuals with “pure” whiplash and 207 with other mild injuries. QOL at 1-year followup was assessed on the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Correlations between explanatory variables and QOL were explored by Poisson regression to provide adjusted relative risks, with ANOVA for the various QOL scores explored.Results.One year post-accident, more patients who had whiplash than other casualties complained of nonrecovery of health status (56% vs 43%) and of the occupational effect of pain (31% vs 23%). QOL and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were similar in the 2 groups. Impaired QOL did not correlate with whiplash when models were adjusted on sociodemographic variables and history of psychological distress. Whatever the initial lesion, PTSD was a determining factor for poorer QOL.Conclusion.Sociodemographic factors, preaccident psychological history prior to the accident, and PTSD were the main factors influencing QOL, rather than whether the injury was whiplash. PTSD may also be related to pain.

scholarly journals The impact of therapy on the quality of life in asymptomatic patients with freshly detected hypertension

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1983
Author(s):  
Satish Chandra Mishra ◽  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Sudeep Prakash ◽  
Pushkar Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
The Impact

Background: Hypertension is an commonly encountered disease which adversely affect  all aspects of quality of life (QoL). The existing studies are confounded by the presence of multiple comorbidities and inclusion of elderly, which by themselves impairs the QoL. There is thus a need to study the impact of hypertension on QoL, in isolation.Method: This is a single center, prospective, intention to treat, observation study. The aim of the study is to evaluate the change in the QoL over six months, in newly diagnosed asymptomatic patients of hypertension. The tools used to assess the QoL included World Health Organisation’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL- BREF) and Short Form-36 (SF-36).Result: A total of 232 patients (172 males and 60 females) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 44.66 years. A total of 102 patients (43.97%) had stage-1 and 130 patients (56.03%) had stage-2 hypertension. The female gender is associated with a higher likelihood of presentation with stage-2 hypertension. The male cohort had a better baseline QoL. The desired blood pressures was achieved in 40.52%. With therapy, the QoL improved significantly; sub-hoc analysis showed, the improvement was higher in males and those with stage-1 hypertension. There is an inverse relationship between the QoL and requirement for higher number of antihypertensive mediations.Conclusions: In patients with asymptomatic primary hypertension, treatment improves all aspects of QoL. The factors adversely affecting the QoL include female gender, higher stage of hypertension, poor blood pressure control and requirement of higher numbers of antihypertensive medicine.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document