Health-Related Quality of Life among Members using an On-Demand Behavioral Health Platform: A Pilot Observational Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Shih ◽  
Brandon S. Aylward ◽  
Sarah Kunkle ◽  
Grant Graziani

BACKGROUND Despite the well-known adverse health conditions and negative economic outcomes associated with mental health problems, accessing treatment is difficult due to reasons such as availability and cost. As a solution, digital mental health services have flooded the industry and new studies are quickly emerging that support their potential as an accessible and cost-effective way to improve mental health outcomes. However, many mental health platforms typically use clinical tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and/or General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Yet, many individuals that seek out care do not have clinical symptomatology and traditional clinical measures may not adequately capture symptom improvement in general well-being. As an alternative, the current study utilized the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Healthy Days” measure. This subjective measure of well-being is an effective way to capture HRQoL and might be better suited as an outcome measure for treatments that include both clinical individuals and individuals with symptoms not meeting clinical thresholds. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe changes in HRQoL in clinical and subclinical members assessing virtual care and to examine the association between text-based behavioral coaching and virtual clinical sessions with changes in HRQoL. METHODS Two hundred and eighty-eight members completed the 4-item HRQoL measure at baseline and one-month following use of the Ginger on-demand behavioral health platform. Baseline anxiety and depression levels were collected using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. RESULTS Members completed on average 1.92 coaching sessions (SD = 2.16) and 0.91 clinical sessions (SD = 1.37) during the assessment month. Paired samples t-tests revealed significant reductions in the average number of unhealthy mental health days between baseline (M = 16.0 days) and one month later (M = 13.2 days), and in the average number of days adversely impacted (M = 10.9, M = 8.19 at baseline and follow-up, respectively). Both subclinical members and members with clinically anxious and/or depressive symptoms demonstrated significant improvements through reductions in adversely impacted days over a month. Clinical members also demonstrated significant improvements through reductions in unhealthy mental health days. Finally, member-engagement with virtual clinical sessions significantly predicted changes in unhealthy mental health days. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to utilize the HRQoL measure as an outcome in an evaluation of a digital behavioral health platform. Using real-world longitudinal data, our preliminary yet promising results show that short-term engagement with virtual care can be an effective means to improve HRQoL for members with subclinical and clinical symptoms. Further follow-up of reported HRQoL over several months is needed.

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-16
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Scherer, PT, PhD, NCS ◽  
Daniel M. Gade, PhD ◽  
Kathleen E. Yancosek, PhD, OTR/L, CHT

Adaptive sports are popular within military and civilian rehabilitation communities as a means to promote fitness, independence, self-efficacy, and return to participation in life roles. Although widely prescribed, there is little evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of such interventions. This study surveyed 40 wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran service members (SMs) who participated in a week-long adaptive kayaking program. Validated health-related quality of life instruments assessing physical and behavioral health domains following trauma were administered before and after participation in a week-long adaptive kayaking trip. Postintervention analysis of these measures revealed clinically significant improvements in depression (+7 percent), anxiety (+5 percent), posttraumatic stress disorder (+4 percent), and social interaction (+7 percent) subscales on the Trauma Outcome Profile (TOP) which trended toward, but did not achieve, statistical significance. Analysis of Veterans RAND (VR-12) data revealed a mean four-point improvement in participant mental health component summary (MCS) scores (p _ 0.05) following intervention indicating clinically and statistically significant improvement in behavioral health symptoms. No improvement was observed on the mean postintervention physical health component summary (PCS) score suggesting minimal short-term effects of kayaking on self-assessment of physical well-being. In aggregate, findings from this study suggest that adaptive kayaking may be an effective intervention to remediate behavioral health sequelae commonly experienced by SM following trauma. Future research should explore the effectiveness of adaptive kayaking relative to standard of care clinical rehabilitation strategies to optimize physical as well as mental health outcomes.


Author(s):  
Petri K. M. Purola ◽  
Janika E. Nättinen ◽  
Matti U. I. Ojamo ◽  
Seppo V. P. Koskinen ◽  
Harri A. Rissanen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To study the prevalence and incidence of the most common eye diseases and their relation to health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, psychological distress, and visual impairment in the aging population of Finland. Methods Our study was based on two nationwide health surveys conducted in 2000 and 2011. Eye disease status data were obtained from 7379 and 5710 individuals aged 30 + years, of whom 4620 partook in both time points. Both surveys included identical indicators of HRQoL (EuroQol-5 Dimension [EQ-5D], 15D), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12 [GHQ-12]), visual acuity, and self-reported eye diseases. We assessed the impact of known eye diseases on these factors, adjusted for age, gender, and co-morbidities. Results Prevalence of self-reported eye diseases was 3.1/2.7% for glaucoma, 8.1/11.4% for cataract, and 3.4/3.8% for retinal degeneration in 2000 and 2011, and the average incidence between 2000 and 2011 was 22, 109, and 35 /year/10,000 individuals, respectively. These eye diseases were associated with a significant decrease in EQ-5D and 15D index scores in both time points. BDI and GHQ-12 scores were also worsened, with some variation between different eye diseases. Impaired vision was, however, the strongest determinant of declined HRQoL. During the 11-year follow-up the effect of eye diseases on HRQoL and mental health diminished. Conclusion Declined HRQoL associated with eye diseases is more related to impaired vision than the awareness of the disease itself, and this declining effect diminished during the follow-up. Therefore, information directed to the public on the risks and prevention of blindness can and should be strengthened to prevent the deleterious effects of visual impairment.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0255077
Author(s):  
Hala Allabadi ◽  
Abdulsalam Alkaiyat ◽  
Tamer Zahdeh ◽  
Alaa Assadi ◽  
Aya Ghanayim ◽  
...  

Background The longitudinal association of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cardiac patients’ remains poorly studied, particularly in conflict-affected settings. Materials and methods For this cohort study, we used baseline and one-year follow-up data collected from patients 30 to 80 years old consecutively admitted with a cardiac diagnosis to four major hospitals in Nablus, Palestine. All subjects were screened for PTSD and HRQL using the PTSD Checklist Specific and the HeartQoL questionnaire. We used a generalized structural equation model (GSEM) to examine the independent predictive association of PTSD at baseline with HRQL at follow-up. We also examined the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress at baseline. Results The prevalence of moderate-to-high PTSD symptoms among 1022 patients at baseline was 27∙0%. Patients with PTSD symptoms reported an approximate 20∙0% lower HRQL at follow-up. The PTSD and HRQL relationship was largely mediated by depressive and anxiety symptoms. It was not materially altered by adjustment for socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Discussion Our findings suggest that individuals with a combination of PTSD and depression, or anxiety are potentially faced with poor HRQL as a longer-term outcome of their cardiac disease. In Palestine, psychological disorders are often stigmatized; however, integration of mental health care with cardiac care may offer an entry door for addressing psychological problems in the population. Further studies need to assess the effective mental health interventions for improving quality of life in cardiac patients.


2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Martinelli Pelegrino ◽  
Rosana Aparecida Spadoti Dantas ◽  
Alexander Michael Clark

This descriptive and exploratory study analyzed variables associated with health-related quality of life among 130 outpatients. Health-related quality of life was measured through the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Significant associations were found between patients’ health-related quality of life and their age (r=-0.177; p=0.044), vitality (r=-0.625; p=<0.001) as well as mental health (r=-0.672; p=<0.001), which are both SF-36 domains. The linear regression showed that heart failure symptom severity, vitality and mental health explained 54% of HRQOL measurement variation. To control symptoms and preserve good mental well-being are important to maintain health-related quality of life and to deliver effective heart failure care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-192
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Gasper ◽  
Megan Lewis ◽  
Anne Kroeger ◽  
Ben Muz ◽  
Nicholas LaRocca ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Multiple sclerosis adult day programs (MSADPs) offer life-enhancing services for individuals and informal caregivers affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), including medical care, rehabilitation therapies, nutrition therapy, cognitive training, tailored education, exercise programs, and social interaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of MSADPs on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and health care utilization of persons with MS and HRQOL and well-being of informal caregivers. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, outcomes between baseline and 1-year follow-up in persons with MS and informal caregivers who used MSADP services and a comparison group of similar persons with MS and caregivers who did not use MSADP services were compared. For persons with MS, outcomes included standardized measures of physical and mental HRQOL and health care utilization. For caregivers, outcomes included physical and mental HRQOL and well-being. Changes in outcomes between baseline and follow-up were examined using propensity score–weighted difference-in-differences regression analysis. Results: For persons with MS, MSADP use had a significant positive effect on 12-Item Short Form Health Survey physical component scores, although the difference was not clinically meaningful. Use of MSADPs did not have effects on any other outcomes for persons with MS or caregivers. Conclusions: Use of MSADPs did not show a clinically meaningful effect on HRQOL for persons with MS or informal caregivers. The MSADPs do not seem to offer sustained benefits to persons with MS or caregivers, but the possibility of initial short-term benefits cannot be ruled out.


Author(s):  
Jocelito TONDOLO JUNIOR ◽  
Jessica Klöckner KNORST ◽  
Gabriele Rissotto MENEGAZZO ◽  
Bruno EMMANUELLI ◽  
Thiago Machado ARDENGHI

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the influence of early childhood malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: 7-year cohort study involving 639 preschoolers (1 to 5 years) who had been evaluated initially with a survey conduced in 2010. Children completed the Brazilian version of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) to assess OHRQoL during the follow-up period. Exploratory variables were collected at baseline, including the presence and severity of malocclusion (overjet and lip coverage). Socioeconomic characteristics, oral health behavior, and patterns of dental attendance were also investigated. A multilevel Poisson regression model was used to fit the association between malocclusion and OHRQoL. With this approach, incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: A total of 449 children were re-evaluated (follow-up rate, 70.3%). The prevalence of accentuated overjet and inadequate lip coverage was 13.5% and 11.9%, respectively. The mean (±SD) CPQ8-10 score was 10.57±10.32. The presence of inadequate lip coverage was associated with higher overall mean CPQ8-10 scores (IRR 1.51; 95% CI 1.29-1.77), and social well-being, emotional well-being, and functional limitation domains. Children with accentuated overjet (>3mm) also demonstrated higher overall scores on the CPQ8-10 than their normal counterparts. The presence of this condition also influenced the oral symptom (IRR 1.29; 95% CI 1.08-1.53) and emotional well-being (IRR 1.30; 95% CI 1.02-1.66) domains. Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that early childhood malocclusion is a risk factor for low OHRQoL in future.


1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 763-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Beusterien ◽  
A R Nissenson ◽  
F K Port ◽  
M Kelly ◽  
B Steinwald ◽  
...  

As a component of the open-label, multicenter National Cooperative Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (Epo) Study, the health-related quality-of-life effects of Epo therapy were assessed in 484 dialysis patients who had not previously been treated with Epo therapy (New-to-Epo) and 520 dialysis patients who were already receiving Epo therapy at the time of study enrollment (Old-to-Epo). Using scales from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), health-related quality of life was assessed on study enrollment (baseline) and at an average of 99 days follow-up. At baseline, SF-36 scores for Old- and New-to-Epo patients were well below those observed in the general population, reflecting substantial impairments in functional status and well-being among patients with chronic renal failure. Significant improvements from baseline to follow-up were observed among New-to-Epo patients in vitality, physical functioning, social functioning, mental health, looking after the home, social life, hobbies, and satisfaction with sexual activity (P < 0.05 for each). The mean improvements in hematocrit values among New-to-Epo and Old-to Epo patients were 4.6 and 0.3, respectively. At the time of follow-up, SF-36 scores for New-to-Epo patients were comparable with those observed among Old-to-Epo patients, whose scores did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up. Analysis of the relationship between Epo therapy, hematocrit values, and health-related quality of life suggest that some of the beneficial quality-of-life effects of Epo are mediated through a change in hematocrit level.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Atwood

Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for severe obesity; however, many patients demonstrate insufficient and/or unsustained weight loss, and unsatisfactory psychosocial functioning in the longer-term. Although it is well established that attendance at postsurgical follow-up appointments is integral to sustained weight loss, nonadherence to follow-up is common. Consequently, presurgical psychosocial evaluations are conducted in order to identify patients at high risk of poor outcomes. Yet, no consensus has been established regarding a standardized protocol for the assessment of variables relevant to surgical outcomes, and bariatric programs vary widely in their interpretation of psychosocial risk. In addition, there is a paucity of research examining the predictive utility of psychosocial evaluations. The Bariatric Interprofessional Psychosocial Assessment of Suitability Scale (BIPASSTM), a novel psychosocial evaluation tool, was developed to address these issues. The purpose of the present study was to contribute to the validation of the BIPASS tool via two aims: 1) by examining the psychometric properties of the BIPASS, and; 2) by examining the ability of the BIPASS tool to predict outcomes 1 and 2 years following bariatric surgery, including weight loss and weight regain, quality of life, psychiatric symptoms, and adherence to postsurgical follow-up appointments. The BIPASS was applied retrospectively to the charts of 200 consecutively referred patients of the Toronto Western Hospital Bariatric Surgery Program (TWH-BSP). Factor analysis of BIPASS items revealed a two-factor structure, reflecting “Mental Health” and “Patient Readiness” subscales. Internal consistency for the BIPASS Total and subscale scores ranged from poor to good, and inter-rater reliability was excellent. Higher BIPASS scores significantly predicted higher binge eating symptomatology, and lower physical and mental health-related quality of life at 1 year postsurgery. The BIPASS did not predict any outcome variables at 2 years postsurgery, or adherence to postsurgical follow-up appointments. Findings suggest that the BIPASS can be used to identify patients at increased risk of problematic eating and poor health-related quality of life early in the postsurgical course, thereby facilitating appropriate interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S25-S26
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan Siegerink ◽  
Marië Nijpels ◽  
Sander Albers ◽  
Frédérique Jurgens ◽  
Felix K Pettai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The long-term effects of COVID-19 are still unknown. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 among survivors after one year. Methods All confirmed COVID-19 cases who presented at OLVG hospital in Amsterdam during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were invited to participate in our prospective observational cohort study. The participants were divided into three subgroups: patients not admitted, admitted to the general ward and admitted to the ICU. Questionnaires were sent at 3, 6 and 12 months after presentation. We used the Research and Development – 36-item health survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the PTSS Checklist for DSM-5. We compared the RAND-36 scores at the timepoints with a Dutch healthy control population in 2020 and between the three subgroups using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Of the 466 confirmed cases, 75 patients died of COVID-19, 64 patients were lost to follow up and 12 patients were excluded because they were unable to complete the questionnaires due to mental illness or cognitive impairment, they moved back to their home country or refused to participate. Of the remaining 315 patients, 182 (57.8%) completed the questionnaires at 3 months. Subsequently, 163 patients provided informed consent for follow up. At 6 and 12 months, 98 (60.1%) and 131 (80.4%) completed the survey. The average score of all domains at 3 months was 58, compared to 79 at twelve months and 81 in the control group. There was a statistically significant increase from 3 and 12 and 6 and 12 months (figure 1). At twelve months participants recovered to levels of the healthy control group (N=459), except for the ICU group, who still experienced bodily pain and decreased physical function. The improvement was most noticeable in the domains of social functioning, role limitations – physical and role limitations – emotional. The percentage of patients with abnormal total HADS scores (cutoff at 16) and PCL5- scores (cutoff at 33) at 3 months decreased from 27.8 to 22.1% and 18.9 to 7.6% at 12 months, respectively (figure 2 and 3). Figure 1. RAND-36: Health-related quality of life after COVID-19 of all patients. Blue line is after 3 months, orange line is after 6 months, green line is after 12 months, yellow line is healthy control. The p-value in the right-upper corner shows statistical significant difference between all total scores, the asterisks indicate significance between groups. PF = physical functioning; SF = social functioning; RP = role limitations–physical; RE = role limitations–emotional; MH = mental health; VT = vitality; BP = pain; GH = general health; HC = health change. Figure 2 The blue column is after 3 months, the orange after 6 months and the green after 12 months. The numbers above the columns are percentages per group. Figure 3 The blue column is after 3 months, the orange after 6 months and the green after 12 months. The numbers above the columns are percentages per group. Conclusion Although, COVID-19 may cause a decreased health-related quality of life and impaired mental health, this study shows important recovery up to normal levels after one year. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


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