scholarly journals Quality of Life and Child’s Autism-Specific Difficulties among Malaysian Main Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author(s):  
Siti Fairus Asahar ◽  
Khasnur Abd Malek ◽  
Mohamad Rodi Isa

Caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) negatively impacts quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors associated with perceived QoL and how problematic a child’s autism-specific difficulties are among the main caregivers of children with ASD who attend specialized preschool programs at the National Autism Society of Malaysia and IDEAS Autism Centre located in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Utilizing the questions from Parts A and B of the Quality of Life in Autism Questionnaire (QoLA), the data from 116 responders were analyzed using univariate and multivariate linear regression. The mean scores of Part A and Part B were 88.55 ± 17.25 and 56.55 ± 12.35, respectively. The QoL was significantly associated with staying in an apartment/flat −11.37 (95%CI: −19.52, −1.17, p = 0.008), main caregivers attending two training sessions 10.35 (95%CI: 1.17, 19.52, p = 0.028), and more than three training sessions 13.36 (95%CI: 2.01, 24.70, p = 0.022). Main caregiver perceptions of their child’s autistic-specific difficulties were significantly associated with not receiving additional help for childcare: no maid −13.54 (95%CI: −24.17, −12.91, p = 0.013); no grandparent −8.65 (95%: −14.33, −2.96, p = 0.003); and main caregivers not having asthma 8.44 (95%CI: 0.02, 16.86, p = 0.049). These identified factors can be considered to inform main caregivers and health care providers on targeted ways to improve the QoL of main caregivers.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Asfaw Erku

Background.Today, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is being routinely practiced by cancer patients worldwide. This study aimed at examining the prevalence of CAM use in patients with cancer and comparing the quality of life (QoL) in CAM users and nonusers.Methods.A cross-sectional study was employed on 195 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at Gondar University Referral Hospital (GURH) chemotherapy center. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used and the collected data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 for Windows.Results.154 (79%) patients were found to be users of CAM. Educational status, average monthly income, disease stage, and comorbidity were strong predictors of use of CAM. The most commonly utilized types of CAM were traditional herbal based medicine (72.1%) and only 20.8% of patients discuss with their doctors CAM use. No significant difference was found in QoL between CAM users and nonusers except in financial difficulties (p=0.020).Conclusions.This study revealed a high rate of CAM use with very low disclosure rate to their health care providers. Health care providers should be open to discuss the use of CAM with their patients as it will lead to better health outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Supriya Patil ◽  
Yamini Patil ◽  
Sanjay Kumar Patil

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that disturbs the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Therefore, evaluation of diabetes- related QOL could be a key outcome measure for its management. This study assessed the QOL in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using the World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life (QOL)˗BREF questionnaire and disease-specific appraisal of diabetes scale (ADS). In this cross-sectional study, 520 T2DM patients were included. Patients’ demographic data, clinical information was collected through interviews, and the WHOQOL-BREF instrument and ADS were used for the QOL of patients. Statistical analysis was performed by using R software (Version 3.6.0). The mean ADS scores were lower in controlled diabetic subjects (18.50±3.08) and higher in uncontrolled diabetic subjects (19.29±2.73) (P<0.05). For WHOQOL-BREF, the mean scores for all the domains (overall general health, physical, psychological, social, and environmental) were significantly higher in controlled diabetic subjects (P<0.001). In addition, the age, duration of diabetes, associated comorbidities, treatment, and HbA1c level of patients showed a highly significant correlation with WHOQOL-BREF (P<0.001). Diabetic patients had poor-to-average QOL. Therefore, public health measures and education of diabetic patients are essential to create more awareness for improving the QOL of T2DM.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Shivani Saini ◽  
◽  
Agarwal Shail ◽  
Jain Manish ◽  
Yadav Devendra ◽  
...  

Background: Dermatophytosis is a common fungal infection affecting 20-25% of the world population. Aims: Our study was aimed to assess its impact on health-related quality of life(QoL), mental health, and various variables. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from April 2019 to September 2019 on 174 patients of dermatophytosis of aged more than 16 years with their informed consent. The impact of infection on the quality of life was assessed by using the Dermatology life quality index questionnaire and General health questionnaire-12 was used to assess psychological impact. A visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of pruritus. Appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: Males to females ratio was 1.4:1. The age group of 21-30 was having the highest number of patients with the mean age of 27.8±9.97. Most patients had BSA under 10%. The mean value of DLQI and GHQ-12 were found 15.989±7.407 and 2.8563±2.8964, respectively. We found that dermatophytosis had a very large effect on the quality of life as the maximum number of patients(39%) were within this category. The “work and school” part in the questionnaire gained maximum importance(52.8%). The mean VAS score was 6±2.733 with most patients(32.7%) had moderate itching. We found a positive correlation between VAS and DLQI, VAS and GHQ-12, DLQI, and GHQ-12 with the statistical significance. Conclusion: In our study dermatophytosis affected the quality of life as well as the psychological health of patients. Therefore proper treatment of superficial dermatophtytosis is essential to prevent it from further complications


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 350
Author(s):  
Naomi Riahta ◽  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Bistok Saing ◽  
Yazid Dimyati ◽  
Johannes Saing

Background Headaches are common problems in adults,adolescents, and children. Headaches impact a child's life, theirfamily life, and even society. An assessment of quality of life inadolescents with primary headaches may help to determine actionsnecessary to improve the quality of life of these patients.Objective To assess the quality oflife of adolescents with primaryheadach es compared to healthy adolescents.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in December2009 on adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. The headache groupconsisted of children with primary headaches according to theInternational Classification of Headache Disarders and the controlgroup consisted of healthy adolescents. Subjects were selected byconsecutive sampling, with 75 subjects in each group. Subjectsfilled the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventary version 4.0 (PedsQL4.0) questionnaire.Results The mean PedsQL total score was significantly lowerin the headache group than in the contra 1 group [ l 7 5. 7 vs.392.2, respectively, (95%CI of differences -28.l to -219.3, P =0.001)]. However, out of23 items in the questionnaire, 9 werenot significantly different between the headache and controlgroups.Conclusions Primary headaches in adolescents is associatedwith lower quality of life. Most quality of life domains scoresare significantly lower in adolescents with primary headachescompared to those without primary headaches.


KnE Medicine ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Muhammad D. Priangga ◽  
Gita Pratama ◽  
Mila Maidarti ◽  
Achmad K. Harzif ◽  
Budi Wiweko

<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p>Infertility in Indonesia has an estimated prevalence as high as 22.3%, with the nature of the problem and its treatment could be devastating, it could affect quality of life and vice versa influence successful of the treatment. The Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQol) Questionnaire was specifically designed for infertility couples and has been demonstrated to have good properties. Studies in several countries has showed consistency in validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Precedently there has been no published study about Fertiqol in Indonesia, this preliminary study is to measure validity and reliability of FertiQol questionnaire among Indonesian infertility women.</p><p><br /> <strong>Material &amp; Methods</strong></p><p>This is a cross-sectional study, a written Fertiqol Questionnaire Indonesian version (www.Fertiqol.org) were distribute to Infertility clinic in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, total of 129 women completed the questionnaire. Statistical analysis used SPSS version 23.0. The questionnaire were tested for validity with Pearson’s correlation with two tailed and Cronbach α coefficient for reliability.<br /> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results</strong></p><p>FertiQol were completed by 129 women with infertility problem. The mean of total FertiQol score was 70.49±11.44, score for emotional, mind/body, relational, environment and tolerability was respectively 63.79±18.86; 66.05±18.22; 75.19.±15.11; 68.99±18.63; 75.64±16.55; 66.23±19.17. Reliability of Fertiqol was high (Cronbach a &gt; 0.70) with every item of questionnaires was valid ( r&gt; 0.1729).<br /> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>This study showed that FertiQol Indonesian version are valid and reliable in measured quality of life among infertility women in Indonesia.</p>


Author(s):  
Obinna Francis Onunkwor ◽  
Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai ◽  
Philip Parikial George ◽  
John Arokiasamy ◽  
Hemetram Yadav ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Hassan Joulaei ◽  
Seyed Ghaleb Mousavi ◽  
Zohre Foroozanfar ◽  
Tayebeh Rakhshani

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is one of the most important indicators in assessing the health and well-being of HIV-positive patients. The present study investigated the HRQoL of HIV patients referred to Abadan’s Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center in 2019. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 134 HIV+ patients referred to Abadan’s VCT center were selected through convenience sampling. Demographic information was collected through a researcher-made checklist; the patients’ status and health information were collected through electronic medical records of HIV+ patients and their records at the VCT center. The HRQoL index was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using simple and multiple linear regression as well as a t -test in SPSS software. A P value < 0.05 was considered as the significance level in all tests. The mean of the HRQoL in all the participating patients was 56.42 ± 22.66 . The highest and lowest mean scores of HRQoL domains were related to social relationships ( 57.53 ± 24.73 ) and environmental health ( 53.68 ± 19.07 ). There was a positive significant relationship between the marital status, residency, years of education, duration of infection, transmission route, and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy with the score of the HRQoL. The results showed a moderate score for the mean HRQoL and its domains. The present study revealed the necessity of improving HIV+ patients’ living conditions, employment status, health education, and mental health care.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAMUEL OKORI ◽  
INNOCENT BESIGYE ◽  
JANE FRANCIS NAMATOVU

Abstract Background The quality of services in Uganda at higher level health facilities are usually affected negatively by congestion when patients bypass care from their primary care health facilities (PCHF). The reason behind this bypass phenomenon in Uganda is limited. This study was conducted among patients receiving care at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda to identify reasons why patients bypass their PCHF. Methods We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study between 29/12/2014 & 30/1/2015, 484 respondents attending the outpatient department were recruited by systematic random sampling. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) each involving 10 participants were conducted. Quantitative data was collected using a validated questionnaire, entered, analysed by Epidata Entry 3.1 and SPSS 18 versions respectively. Descriptive statistics and chi square test for differences in the study population were used. For qualitative data, thematic analysis of transcripts was done. Codes and categories were developed and interrogated following an iterative process based on grounded theory. Results The majority (80.4%) of respondents (71.7% females, mean age 18-35 years, SD 0.85) bypassed their PCHF. Factors associated with bypass were: marital status, distance travelled of >10 km and tertiary education. FGDs reported lack of trust in the health care providers, lack of medicines and diagnostic equipment. Conclusions Poor quality of health services at PCHF encourages seeking care from higher-level facilities. Utilization of PCHF is limited due to poor infrastructure, shortage of medicines and human resource. Improvement of these issues will support PCHF which in turn can help reverse bypass phenomenon.


Author(s):  
Gilber Kask ◽  
Jussi P. Repo ◽  
Erkki J. Tukiainen ◽  
Carl Blomqvist ◽  
Ian Barner-Rasmussen

Abstract Background Few studies have focused on patient-related factors in analyzing long-term functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with postoperative lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with postoperative functional outcome and HRQoL in patients with lower extremity STS. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary referral center using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and 15 Dimension (15D) measures. Functional outcome and HRQoL data were collected prospectively. All patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team according to a written treatment protocol. Results A total of 141 patients who had undergone limb-salvage surgery were included. Depending on the outcome measure used, 19–51% of patients were completely asymptomatic and 13–14% of patients had an unimpaired HRQoL. The mean score for TESS, 15D mobility score, and QLQ-C30 Physical Functioning scale were 86, 0.83, and 75, respectively, while the mean score for 15D was 0.88, and 73 for QLQ-C30 QoL. Lower functional outcome was statistically significantly associated with higher age, higher body mass index (BMI), and the need for reconstructive surgery and radiotherapy, while lower HRQoL was statistically significantly associated with higher age, higher BMI, and reconstructive surgery. Conclusion Functional outcome and HRQoL were generally high in this cross-sectional study of patients with STS in the lower extremity. Both tumor- and treatment-related factors had an impact but patient-related factors such as age and BMI were the major determinants of both functional outcome and HRQoL.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
Ismail Toygar ◽  
Öznur Usta Yeşilbalkan ◽  
Merve Kürkütlü ◽  
Tuğba Akgün

Introduction: Improving the Quality of Life (QoL) is considered one of the main objectives in the care of cancer patients. Achieving this objective, it is essential to determine the factors affecting QoL in cancer patients. The studies in the literature have determined the effects of various factors on QoL but social support from family has remained to be studied.  Objective: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support from family and QoL in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an oncology unit of a university hospital in İzmir City, Turkey, from March to October 2019. A convenience sample of 276 cancer patients participated in the study. A patient identification form, the Perceived Social Support from family scale (PSS-Family), and the Quality of Life index-cancer version (QLI-C) were used for data collection. The scores of PSS-Family and QLI-C range from 0 to 20 and from 66 to 396, respectively. Regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of perceived social support from family on QoL. Results: Of the participants, 65.2% were female. The Mean±SD age of the study sample was 47.5±14.4 years. Also, the Mean±SD scores of PSS-Family and QLI-C were 16.43±3.01 and 307.77±27.48, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that perceived social support from family was associated with a relative increase in QoL index (B=3.44, P=0.001, R2=0.141). Conclusion: Perceived social support from family is positively associated with QoL in cancer patients. Nurses should consider this relationship when they plan to improve the QoL of cancer patients.


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