The Impact of Socio-Economical Status on the Quality of Life of Children with Asthma

Low socioeconomic level may contribute to the severity of asthma, frequency of exacerbation, and hospitalization and affects the quality of life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on general score of quality of life (GSQL). Methods: The study group included children aged between 8-16 years with persistent asthma, and we followed them up 12 months. We analyzed the location and the size of the household, educational level, and employment status of parents and family income. The GSQL was obtained based on the questionnaire of quality of life in children with asthma. According to the SES, we divided the study group into high income and low-income groups. Results: Half of the patients belonged to families with low income. There were no significant differences in GSQL regarding the living area, educational level, and parents' employment status. The general score of quality of life was higher in patients from the high-income group than those with lower income at the beginning of the study (5.04±1.09 versus 4.43±0.97; p=0.0101). Alter 12 months GSQL increased significantly in both groups (6.57±0.57 versus 6.49±0.56; p=0.3167). The quality of life was not affected by atopic status. Conclusions: The low income has a negative impact on children GSQL. The educational level and employment status of parents, rural area, and the association of other allergic diseases do not affect the quality of life.

Download Full-text

Better Breathing or Better Living? A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact of Asthma Medication Acquisition on Standard of Living and Quality of Life in Low-income Families of Children With Asthma

Journal of Pediatric Health Care ◽

10.1016/j.pedhc.2005.06.004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 354-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Wendy J. Ungar ◽

Tony MacDonald ◽

Martha Cousins

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Qualitative Analysis ◽

Low Income ◽

Asthma Medication ◽

Standard Of Living ◽

Children With Asthma ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Analysis of the Impact of Personalized Nursing Service and Hospice Care on the Quality of Life of Elderly Cancer Patients

Tobacco Regulatory Science ◽

10.18001/trs.7.4.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 469-473

Author(s):

Ting Fang ◽

Nian Wang ◽

Meng Chen ◽

Hongmei Ma

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

The Difference ◽

The Impact

Objective Explore the impact of personalized nursing services and hospice care on the quality of life of elderly patients with advanced cancer. Method We selected 80 elderly cancer patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to May 2021, and divided these patients into a study group and a control group using a random number table method. The patients in the control group used conventional nursing methods to treat and care for the patients, and the patients in the study group used hospice care measures and combined personalized nursing measures. The quality of life and pain treatment effects of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were compared. Result Before treatment, the quality-of-life scores of the two groups of patients were low, and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05); After treatment, the quality of life of the two groups of patients improved, but compared with the control group, the improvement was more obvious in the study group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of pain treatment effect, the total effective rate of pain treatment in the study group was 87.5%, which was significantly better than the 62.5% in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Personalized nursing services and hospice care are conducive to improving the survival and treatment of elderly patients with advanced cancer, and can be used as a clinical application program for the care of advanced cancer patients.

Download Full-text

Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in Asthma

Canadian Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1155/1997/927162 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 145-151

Author(s):

Elizabeth F Juniper

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Measurement Properties ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Children With Asthma ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Adults And Children ◽

The Impact

Many clinicians now recognize the importance of incorporating an assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) into their clinical studies and practices. Conventional clinical measures provide valuable information about the status of the affected organ system but rarely capture the functional impairments (physical, emotional and social) that are important to patients in their everyday lives. To obtain a complete picture of a patient’s health status, both the conventional clinical indices and the patient's HRQL must be measured. Both adults and children with asthma are distressed by symptoms, such as shortness of breath, cough and chest tightness, and they are limited in their day-to-day activities, such as sports, employment or school work and participation in activities with friends. In addition, both adults and children with asthma are concerned about having asthma, fearful of not having their medications when they need them and frightened of having an asthma attack. They become very frustrated, and children in particular often feel different and isolated from their friends. Disease-specific HRQL questionnaires have been developed and validated for both adults and children with asthma. This paper provides a review of these questionnaires and identifies their strengths and weaknesses. The questionnaires chosen for review have good measurement properties and validity and can be used in both clinical trials and clinical practice to assess the impact of asthma on a patient’s life. Because one of the aims of treatment is to ensure that patients benefit from treatment, an essential component of clinical assessment should be evaluation of HRQL.

Download Full-text

WOMEN WITH NONCLASSIC CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA HAVE GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE FEATURES SIMILAR TO THOSE OF NONAFFECTED WOMEN

Endocrine Practice ◽

10.4158/ep-2019-0509 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 535-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anat Segev-Becker ◽

Roi Jacobson ◽

Ronnie Stein ◽

Ori Eyal ◽

Asaf Oren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Gender Identity ◽

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia ◽

World Health ◽

Study Group ◽

Adrenal Hyperplasia ◽

Quality Of Life Questionnaires ◽

The Impact

Objective: Females with the severe classic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia reportedly have a higher frequency of atypical gender identity, nonheterosexual sexual relationships, and cross-gender role behavior. Comparable data and quality-of-life measures among those with the milder, more prevalent form, nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, are scarce. We aimed to assess health-related quality of life, gender identity, role, and sexual orientation in women with nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia via a prospective, questionnaire-based, case-control study. Methods: Thirty-eight women with nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (median age 34 years; range, 18 to 44 years) and 62 age-matched female controls were recruited. Outcome measures included the Multi-Gender Identity, Sexuality, and World Health Organization (WHO) quality-of-life questionnaires. Results: Sociodemographic parameters (marital status, number of children, and educational level) were similar for both groups, as were most measures of the Multi-Gender Identity, Sexuality, and WHO quality-of-life questionnaires. However, “sometimes-feeling-as-a-man and sometimes-feeling-as-a-woman” were more frequently reported in the study group compared to the controls (7/38 [18.4%] vs. 3/62 [4.8%], respectively; P = .02). Furthermore, more nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia women reported first falling in love with a woman (4/37 [10.8%] vs. 0/58 [0%]; P = .02). Conclusion: Our findings suggest possible subtle differences in gender identity and sexual orientation between adult nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia females and controls. Quality of life was not impaired in individuals within the study group. The impact of exposure to mildly elevated androgen levels during childhood and adolescence on the female brain warrants more in-depth assessment in further studies. Abbreviations: CAH = congenital adrenal hyperplasia; Multi-GIQ = Multi-Gender Identity Questionnaire; NCCAH = nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia; QoL = quality of life

Download Full-text

Analysis of the Impact of Personalized Nursing Service and Hospice Care on the Quality of Life of Elderly Cancer Patients

Tobacco Regulatory Science ◽

10.18001/trs.7.5.1.106 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 3320-3324

Author(s):

Ting Fang ◽

Nian Wang ◽

Meng Chen ◽

Hongmei Ma

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

The Difference ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Effects of education level and employment status on HRQoL in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458506073511 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 783-791 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

F. Patti ◽

C. Pozzilli ◽

E. Montanari ◽

A. Pappalardo ◽

L. Piazza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Educational Level ◽

Employment Status ◽

Education Level ◽

High Educational Level ◽

Relapsing Remitting ◽

Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose To evaluate the effects of education level and employment status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large cohort of patients affected by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients This study included 648 patients with RRMS attending 40 Italian MS centers. Inclusion criteria were an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 1.0 and 5.5; stable disease on enrollment; and no previous treatment with interferons, glatiramer acetate, or immunosuppressive drugs. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQoL-54). Results Employed patients scored significantly higher than other patient groups in the majority of MSQoL-54 domains. Similarly, patients with academic degrees and secondary education had higher scores than those with primary education (ie, eight years of education) in several domains of HRQoL. Patients who were employed with a high educational level achieved significantly better scores than unemployed patients with a lower educational level. In multivariate analysis, occupation and educational level were found to be significant and independent predictors of HRQoL. Conclusions The results of our study suggest the importance of sustaining employment after a recent diagnosis of MS. In addition, education has a great influence on HRQoL; a higher education level may determine a stronger awareness of the disease, and a better ability to cope with the challenges of a chronic disease such as MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 783-791. http://msj.sagepub.com

Download Full-text

The impact of diarrhoea in infants on the quality of life of low-income households

South African Family Practice ◽

10.1080/20786204.2008.10873700 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 62-62c ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M Murray ◽

M Versteeg ◽

J Hugo

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Low Income ◽

The Impact ◽

Low Income Households

Download Full-text

3154The incidence of atrial fibrillation continues to increase across all socioeconomic subgroups: 30-year time trends from a Nationwide cohort

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz745.0042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Z M Yaqub ◽

T S G Sehested ◽

A N Bonde ◽

J B Olesen ◽

C Torp-Pedersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Low Income ◽

Educational Level ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

High Income Group ◽

Income Status ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction The incidence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) has increased substantially throughout the last decades. Socioeconomic factors such as income and education are well known to be associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, however, the impact on long-term trends of AF incidence rates is yet to be described. Purpose This nationwide cohort study examined the temporal trends of AF incidence rates over a span of 30 years (from 1987 to 2016) in Denmark. Furthermore, the impact of income and education was outlined. Method Patients were identified through linkage across Danish national registries from 1987 to 2016. We extracted data on the total number of inhabitants in Denmark aged ≥18 years, and used their age, sex, civil status, income and educational level for each calendar year. Data on socio economics were available from 1994. Income was defined by the average income over the prior 5 years and grouped into low (<q1),>Q3). Educational level was divided into primary school, high school, bachelor's degree, or master's degree. We defined incident AF as all first-time in- and outpatient diagnoses of AF. The incidence rates of AF were age-standardized per 1000 person-years for each calendar year and calculated for men and women separately. Results A total of 6,968,997 Danish inhabitants aged ≥18 years contributed to the study population from 1987 to 2016, and 393,183 (6%) developed AF over the study period. The age-standardized incidence rates of AF per 1000 person-years increased from 1.23 (CI 1.15:1.30) to 4.05 (CI 3.93:4.17) for men and from 1.13 (CI 1.06:1.30) to 3.56 (CI 3.44:3.68) for women from 1987 to 2016. Income status and educational level influenced the age-standardized incidence rates more significantly in women than men. The incidence rate from 1994 to 2016 for women with low income increased by a factor of 2.1 from 2.0 (CI 1.89:2.21) to 4.36 (CI 4.03:4.73). However, the high income group increased by a factor of 1.6 (from 1.74 (CI 1.10:3.32) to 2.83 (CI 2.29:3.55) per 1000 person-years). Moreover, the incidence rate for women with low educational level increased from 1.60 (CI 0.95:5.97) to 4.01 (CI 3.80:4.23) per 1000 person-years. The high educational group increased only by 1.2 (from 2.55 (CI 0.77:10.38) to 3.1 (CI 3.32:4.11) per 1000 person-years). Conclusion In a nationwide population, the incidence rate of AF continued to increase during a 30-year period. All socioeconomic subgroups experienced an increase in AF incidence, but the impact of low socioeconomic status was more significant among women than among men. The progressive growth in AF incidence has significant public health implications. Acknowledgement/Funding Danish Heart Foundation

Download Full-text

Lower educational level and unemployment increase the impact of cardiometabolic conditions on the quality of life: results of a population-based study in South Australia

Quality of Life Research ◽

10.1007/s11136-017-1503-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 1521-1530 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

David Alejandro González-Chica ◽

Robert Adams ◽

Eleonora Dal Grande ◽

Jodie Avery ◽

Phillipa Hay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Educational Level ◽

South Australia ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Lower Educational Level ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

The Psychological Adjustment of Children with Asthma: Study of Associated Variables

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/s1138741600003917 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 353-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lígia Lima ◽

Marina Prista Guerra ◽

Marina Serra de Lemos

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Skills ◽

Psychological Adjustment ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Coping Efficacy ◽

Task Persistence ◽

Negative Reactivity ◽

Children With Asthma ◽

The Impact

As part of a larger research project aimed to understand the impact of asthma in the psychological adjustment of children, this study focuses in the identification of factors associated with this process. The sample of this study consisted of 89 children, aged 8 to 12 with physician diagnosed asthma. To assess children's adjustment, the Portuguese versions of the following instruments were used: School-age Temperament Inventory (McClowry, 1995) Schoolagers Coping Strategies Inventory (Ryan-Wenger, 1990); Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory – PedsQL (Varni, Seid & Kurtin, 2001); The Self-perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985), Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach,1991); Social Skills Rating System (Gresham & Elliot, 1990). The results revealed that negative reactivity predicts the level of anxiety/depression, task persistence and perceived coping efficacy predicts social skills and that self-esteem is a significant predictor of the perceived quality of life. A significant proportion of shared variance was also found what seems to confirm the existence of multi-determination in the process of adjustment. The main conclusion is that two dimensions of temperament (negative reactivity and task persistence), as well as perceived coping efficacy and self-esteem, play a significant role in influencing the psychological adjustment of children with asthma.

Download Full-text