The Influence of Income and Livelihood Diversification on Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Ethiopia

Examining health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a rural setting can be beneficial for improving rural household policies and fostering public health promotion. The objective of this study was to measure the HRQOL and associated socioeconomic characteristics as well as test the reliability of the Amharic version of SF-8 (eight-item short form of HRQOL survey). A cross-sectional study was employed in three agroecologically different sites in rural Ethiopia, involving 270 household heads (218 male and 52 female) with a mean age ± standard deviation of 49 ± 12.88 years. The survey material consisted of a structured questionnaire for socioeconomic characteristics and SF-8 for HRQOL. The mean physical and mental component summary score of the whole sample was 30.50 ± 12.18 and 34.40 ± 7.26, respectively, well underneath the instrument average of 50. The SF-8 items showed excellent internal consistency in terms of both Cronbach’s α coefficients and item–total correlation. In stepwise multiple linear regression, the low-income group had worse self-perceived physical health than the higher-income groups. Likewise, a diversified livelihood had a profound influence on positive self-perceived physical health. These findings imply that developing and distributing wide-ranging socioeconomic and public health policies is crucial for effective health promotion in rural communities.

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Self-reported symptoms of arm lymphedema and health-related quality of life among female breast cancer survivors

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89055-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kayo Togawa ◽

Huiyan Ma ◽

Ashley Wilder Smith ◽

Marian L. Neuhouser ◽

Stephanie M. George ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Health ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Burning Pain ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Arm Lymphedema

AbstractWe examined cross-sectional associations between arm lymphedema symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. 499 women diagnosed with localized or regional breast cancer at ages 35–64 years completed a survey, on average 40 months after diagnosis, querying presence of lymphedema, nine lymphedema-related symptoms, e.g., tension, burning pain, mobility loss, and warmth/redness, and HRQoL. Analysis of covariance models were used to assess HRQoL scores in relation to presence of lymphedema and lymphedema-related symptoms. Lymphedema was self-reported by 137 women, of whom 98 were experiencing lymphedema at the time of the assessment. The most common symptoms were heaviness (52%), numbness (47%), and tightness (45%). Perceived physical health was worse for women reporting past or current lymphedema than those reporting no lymphedema (P-value < 0.0001). No difference was observed for perceived mental health (P-value = 0.31). Perceived physical health, stress, and lymphedema-specific HRQoL scores worsened as number of symptoms increased (P-values ≤ 0.01). Women reporting tension in the arm had lower physical health (P-value = 0.01), and those experiencing burning pain, tension, heaviness, or warmth/redness in the arm had lower lymphedema-specific HRQoL (P-values < 0.05). Treatment targeting specific lymphedema-related symptoms in addition to size/volume reduction may improve some aspects of HRQoL among affected women.

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Acute Pancreatitis Has a Long-term Deleterious Effect on Physical Health Related Quality of Life

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology ◽

10.1016/j.cgh.2017.05.037 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1435-1443.e2 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jorge D. Machicado ◽

Amir Gougol ◽

Kimberly Stello ◽

Gong Tang ◽

Yongseok Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Acute Pancreatitis ◽

Physical Health ◽

Deleterious Effect ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement in Public Health

Annual Review of Public Health ◽

10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052120-012811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert M. Kaplan ◽

Ron D. Hays

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Patient Reported Outcomes ◽

Well Being ◽

Publication Date ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Patient-reported outcomes are recognized as essential for the evaluation of medical and public health interventions. Over the last 50 years, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) research has grown exponentially from 0 to more than 17,000 papers published annually. We provide an overview of generic HRQoL measures used widely in epidemiological studies, health services research, population studies, and randomized clinical trials [e.g., Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®)-29]. In addition, we review methods used for economic analysis and calculation of the quality-adjusted life year (QALY). These include the EQ-5D, the Health Utilities Index (HUI), the self-administered Quality of Well-being Scale (QWB-SA), and the Health and Activities Limitation Index (HALex). Furthermore, we consider hybrid measures such as the SF-6D and the PROMIS-Preference (PROPr). The plethora of HRQoL measures has impeded cumulative science because incomparable measures have been used in different studies. Linking among different measures and consensus on standard HRQoL measurement should now be prioritized. In addition, enabling widespread access to common measures is necessary to accelerate future progress. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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Health-related quality of life outcomes in pediatric patients with cardiac rhythm devices: a cross-sectional study with case-control comparison

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes ◽

10.1186/s12955-019-1219-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Helene Werner ◽

Phaedra Lehmann ◽

Alina Rüegg ◽

Silvia Hilfiker ◽

Karin Steinmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Health ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Cardiac Medication ◽

Disease Specific

Abstract Background Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric patients with cardiac rhythm devices. This study aims to compare self- and proxy-reported HRQoL in patients with pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to that in sex- and age-matched healthy controls and to examine predictors for generic and disease-specific HRQoL. Methods The study included 72 PM and ICD patients (39% females) and 72 sex- and age-matched healthy controls from 3 to 18 years of age. HRQoL data was obtained by the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory. Medical data was collected retrospectively from medical records. Results Patients had significantly lower self- and proxy-reported generic overall HRQoL and lower physical health than healthy controls, and ICD patients also had lower psychosocial health. On multivariate analyses, generic overall HRQoL and physical health was significantly predicted by current cardiac medication (β = −.39, p = .02 for overall HRQoL, respectively β = −.44, p = .006 for physical health). Disease-specific overall HRQoL was only marginally predicted by child age, device type, and the presence of a structural congenital heart disease (p < .10). Conclusions This study shows that PM and ICD patients have lower HRQoL than healthy controls and that patients who need cardiac medication are seen by their parents at great risk for lower generic overall HRQoL. Our study also indicates a trend towards higher risk for low disease-specific HRQoL in younger patients, ICD patients, and patients with a structural congenital heart disease. Special attention should be given to these patients as they may benefit from a timely clinical evaluation in order to provide supportive interventions.

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The paradox of aging and health-related quality of life in Asian Chinese: results from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-1446-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Han-Yun Tseng ◽

Corinna Löckenhoff ◽

Chun-Yi Lee ◽

Shu-Han Yu ◽

I-Chien Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Health ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Mental Function ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Objective Health ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Age Patterns

Abstract Background Declines in health, physical, cognitive, and mental function with age suggest a lower level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in late life; however, previous studies found that the associations were weak and varied, depending on the study designs and cohort characteristics. Methods The present study examined the paradox of aging in an East Asian context by regressing the age patterns of objective health indicators (physical, cognitive, and mental function), and subjective HRQoL (12-item Short Form, SF-12), on the independent and interactive effects of age and physical function in a cohort study of 5022 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older in Taiwan. Results Age patterns differed across measures. The SF-12 mental health score (MCS) showed a slight positive association with age and this effect remained stable after controlling for various age-related covariates. The SF-12 physical health score (PCS), in turn, was negatively associated with age. Age differences in PCS were fully explained by age decrements in objective physical health. However, consistent with the so-called paradox of aging, the association between objective and subjective physical health weakened with age. Conclusion These findings add to prior evidence indicating that — in spite of objective health decrements — subjective HRQoL is maintained in later life among Asian Chinese. Also, these paradoxical patterns appear to vary for mental and physical components of HRQoL, and future research is needed to explore the underlying mechanism. Trial registration Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on January 24, 2016 with trial registration number NCT02677831.

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Longitudinal association between weight change and health related quality of life: Data from Stockholm Public Health Cohort 2002-2010

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/cku162.035 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

N Döring ◽

J de Munter ◽

F Rasmussen

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Weight Change ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Life Data ◽

Longitudinal Association ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Physical health-related quality of life at higher achieved hemoglobin levels among chronic kidney disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Nephrology ◽

10.1186/s12882-020-01912-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Murilo Guedes ◽

Camila R. Guetter ◽

Lucas H. O. Erbano ◽

Andre G. Palone ◽

Jarcy Zee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Physical Health ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Comparing Differences Between College Students’ Health Perceptions and Health Behaviors

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa059_058 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1341-1341

Author(s):

Kayla Parsons ◽

Leigh Neptune ◽

Onycha Carlson ◽

Elizabeth Matthews ◽

Jade McNamara

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

College Students ◽

Physical Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Abstract Objectives The objective of this research was to compare health behavior differences between young adults who perceive their health as excellent or good and those who perceive their health as fair or poor. Methods A cross-sectional, convenience sample of college students was used for the study. Students were recruited via campus email and were asked to complete an online survey consisting of the Center for Disease Control's Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) modules, self-reported height and weight which was used to calculate body mass index (BMI), and a food frequency questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intake. Independent t-tests were used to assess differences between groups. Results Participants (N = 797) were 20 ± 1.4 years old, the majority were female (65.5%), and white (92.3%). The results showed that students who reported their health as “excellent, very good, or good” (n = 616) versus those that reported their health as “fair or poor” (n = 181) consumed more servings of fruit per day (0.84 ± 0.7 vs. 0.56 ± 0.5, P < 0.001), more servings of vegetables per day (1.6 ± 1.2 vs. 1.3 ± 1.2, P < 0.001) and had a lower BMI (24.2 ± 4.1 vs. 26.1 ± 5.3, P < 0.001). They also had significantly better HRQOL, with reporting more days/month when they were in good physical health (3.9 ± 5.1 vs. 8.2 ± 8.4, P < 0.001), less days/month feeling depressed (6.7 ± 7.7 vs. 15.1 ± 10.4, P < 0.001), more days/month when they were happy/full of energy (12.7 ± 8.3 vs. 6.4 ± 6.1, P < 0.001), and less days/month when they did not get enough sleep (13.0 ± 9.0 vs. 17.8 ± 9.6, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions This data shows that students who perceived their general health to be excellent, very good, or good, reported healthier behaviors compared to students who perceived their health to be fair or poor. This research provides justification that college aimed health and wellness initiatives should focus on both mental and physical health of college students in order to shape positive behaviors that impact overall health-related quality of life. Funding Sources Bushway Research Fund, University of Maine.

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