Informal Caregivers’ Roles in Dementia: The Impact on Their Quality of Life

The constantly changing process of caring for a person with dementia affects the informal caregivers’ role due to its psychosocial impact. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the impact of the Person with Dementia informal caregiver’s role caregiver to a person with dementia on the self-perceived quality of life (QoL) of the caregiver. In total, 160 informal caregivers were recruited between January and December 2019. Informal caregivers’ quality of life was assessed using the European Quality of Life 5-Dimension scale, burden with the Zarit Burden Scale, emotional wellbeing using the General Health Questionnaire, and caregiver reactions using Caregiver Reaction Aspects. Patients’ cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination, their quality of life using Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease, and neuropsychiatric symptoms using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Outcomes were studied using the Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA test. Most informal caregivers’ outcomes were significantly associated with their quality of life. Male informal caregivers have a slightly better quality of life than female caregivers (p < 0.001). Caregiver burden (p < 0.001), psychological wellbeing (p < 0.001) and negative aspects of caregiving on health (p < 0.001) correlated moderately with informal caregivers’ quality of life. Factors associated with dementia, including the course of the illness and its severity with the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms can negatively affect the informal caregiver’s role and produce a low self-perception of quality of life; thus, social and professional support for informal caregivers is essential.

Download Full-text

Assessment of the impact of toothache, untreated caries and its consequences on the quality of life among poor Brazilian children

Revista da Faculdade de Odontologia - UPF ◽

10.5335/rfo.v25i1.10236 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 88-95

Author(s):

Maria Clara Calvancati Campêlo ◽

Renata Matos Lamenha Lins ◽

Gabriela Freire Alves ◽

José Cláudio Santos Costa ◽

Valdeci Elias dos Santos-Júnior

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Dental Pain ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pufa Ratio ◽

Untreated Caries ◽

The Impact ◽

Untreated Dental Caries

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of dental pain and the consequences of untreated dental caries on the quality of life in children of low social-economic status aged from 8 to 10 years old. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 230 children were submitted to a clinical examination in which the caries-pufa ratio was measured, afterward, they answered to two questionnaires: one about their quality of life (CPQ8-10) and the other about dental pain. Data were statistically analyzed through Chi-square, Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests to evaluate the association between the variables with impact on children’s OHRQoL. To establish the existence of risk factors among variables and impact on OHRQoL a Poisson Regression model was applied. Results: Dental caries (p = 0.003; PR 2.39; 95% CI 1.04–1.56), severity of untreated caries (p = 0.008; PR 2.86; 95% CI 1.13–2.00), toothache (p < 0.001; PR 2.31; 95% CI 1.64–3.27) and PUFA + pufa index (p < 0.023; PR 2.68; 95% CI 1.10–1.87) were associated with and were a predictor factor for impact on overall OHRQoL. All of these variables also had an effect over the social welfare subscale (p ≤ 0.001), whereas caries presence was also statistically linked with the emotional wellbeing subscale (p = 0.008) and dental pain with all four subscales (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Untreated dental caries’ clinical consequences and dental pain exerted a negative influence on the quality of life of schoolchildren analyzed.

Download Full-text

Quality of life and perceived health status in surviving adults with univentricular heart

Heart ◽

10.1136/hrt.86.1.69 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 69-73

Author(s):

Z Saliba ◽

G Butera ◽

D Bonnet ◽

P Bonhoeffer ◽

E Villain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Normal Population ◽

Psychosocial Problems ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Univentricular Heart ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Clinical Variables ◽

Health Measures ◽

The Impact

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality of life in patients with univentricular heart and to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.DESIGN AND SETTINGRetrospective, cross sectional study conducted in a regional paediatric cardiology centre.PATIENTSThe health records of 89 survivors with univentricular heart (median age 21 years; range 17–49 years) were reviewed. Sixty seven answered the Duke questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were similar in the responders and non-responders. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical variables on individual Duke's measures was assessed.RESULTSThe Duke scores of adults with univentricular heart were similar to the normal population. Cyanosis predicted a worse score for physical (p = 0.05) and perceived health measures (p = 0.02). A higher educational level predicted a better score for physical (p = 0.004), mental (p = 0.01), and general health measures (p = 0.02). Orthopaedic problems worsened the social score (p = 0.05). Psychosocial problems worsened the pain score (p = 0.04). In comparison with the other anatomical types, mitral atresia worsened the perceived health score (p = 0.02). Patients younger than 23 years scored better for almost all health and dysfunction measures.CONCLUSIONSDespite repeated interventions and other disease related everyday stresses, a selected group of adults with univentricular heart had a satisfying quality of life.

Download Full-text

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Caregivers of People With Dementia in Latin America: A Review

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.881 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 275-276

Author(s):

Jose Aravena ◽

Jean Gajardo ◽

Laura Gitlin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Latin America ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Latin American ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Person With Dementia

Abstract In a scenario of increasing longevity and social inequalities, Latin-America is an important contributor to the worldwide dementia burden. Caregivers’ health is fundamental to maintain the person with dementia quality of life. However, caregiving is a culturally sensible role that requires tailored solutions. The aim is to synthesize the evidence about non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia in Latin-American contexts. A comprehensive review of interventions in caregivers and persons with dementia in Latin-American countries was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus with studies published until January 27th, 2020. Randomized clinical trials of non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia or dyads where included. Qualitative synthesis of the evidence was presented and analyzed. Overall, 9 pilot RCT were included for the final analysis (6 Brazil, 1 Colombia, 1 Mexico, 1 Perú). The biggest study recruited 69 caregivers and the smallest 13 dyads, with follow-up range of 3-6 months. 5 control groups received at least some other non-standard care type of intervention. 8 were targeted exclusively to caregivers (4 group intervention, 3 individual, and 1 combined) and 1 multicomponent intervention. Most frequent measured outcomes were caregiver’s burden, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life, and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Individual interventions report better results in caregiver parameters such as burden and depressive symptoms and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Group interventions presented mixed results. Nevertheless, the quality of evidence was low. There is a critical need to study interventions for caregivers in Latin-American contexts.

Download Full-text

Prevalence and quality of life in high school pupils with acne in Serbia

Vojnosanitetski pregled ◽

10.2298/vsp1310935p ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 70 (10) ◽

pp. 935-939 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jelena Peric ◽

Natasa Maksimovic ◽

Janko Jankovic ◽

Biljana Mijovic ◽

Vesna Reljic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

High School ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Demographic Questionnaire ◽

Study Population ◽

Serbian Version ◽

The Impact ◽

Spearman’S Correlation

Background/Aim. Acne is a common problem in adolescent children with considerable emotional and psychological effects. The aim of this study was to determine the self-reported prevalence of acne and to assess its impact on the quality of life in high school pupils in Serbia. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2011 in two medical high schools in Serbia. Only pupils who gave a written informed consent to participate in the study (n = 440) were asked to fill in two questionnaires: short demographic questionnaire and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), a disease-specific questionnaire measuring disability induced by acne. Internal consistency (tested by Cronbach?s alpha) and item-total score correlations (Spearman's correlation analysis) were used for reliability analyses. Results. The study population consisted of 440 pupils, 281 from Belgrade and 159 from Uzice. Among them 371 (84.3%) were girls and 69 (15.7%) boys, with similar sex distribution in Belgrade and Uzice. The total mean age of pupils was 16.48 years (SD = 0.55). Out of 440 pupils 228 (51.8%) self-reported their acne. The acne prevalence was significantly higher in pupils from Uzice (73.6%) than in those from Belgrade (39.6%). The overall mean CADI score for the whole sample was 2.87 ? 2.74, with the similar quality of life impairment in adolescents from Belgrade and from Uzice. The mean Cronbach?s alpha was 0.82. Conclusion. This study shows that the quality of life impairment due to acne is mild for the majority of the affected pupils. The Serbian version of the CADI is a reliable, valid, and valuable tool for assessing the impact of acne on the quality of life.

Download Full-text

Living with an MPN in Ireland: patients' and caregivers' perspectives

British Journal of Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjon.2021.30.17.s24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (17) ◽

pp. S24-S30

Author(s):

Geraldine Walpole ◽

Mary Kelly ◽

Joy Lewis ◽

Avril Gleeson ◽

Ann-Marie Cullen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Unmet Needs ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Peer Group ◽

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽

Symptom Burden ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

The Republic ◽

The Impact

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with a high disease burden, reduced quality of life and shortened survival. The aim of this questionnaire was to gain patients' and caregivers' perspectives on the impact of living with an MPN in the Republic of Ireland. An Irish adaptation of the ‘Global MPN Landmark survey’ was conducted. Fifty-one patients and 44 caregivers completed the questionnaire. Patients reported a wide variety of symptoms at the time of questionnaire completion; fatigue, bone pain and pruritus being most frequently reported. Approximately one-third of respondents from each of the groups (patients and caregivers) reported a negative impact of MPNs on their emotional wellbeing and daily lives. The study findings revealed that, despite treatment, symptom burden remains high, and several unmet needs exist, including educational, emotional and peer group support. Interventions that focus on reducing symptom burden and addressing these unmet needs, may improve the quality of life for patients with MPNs and their caregivers.

Download Full-text

Quality of Life in People Living With HIV: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey in Belgium

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2021.33.3.249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 249-264

Author(s):

Gert Scheerder ◽

Sandra Van den Eynde ◽

Patrick Reyntiens ◽

Ria Koeck ◽

Jessika Deblonde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Sexual Life ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

The Impact

This cross-sectional survey explored the quality of life in 505 people living with HIV in Belgium. Several domains of quality of life were impaired: 26% had been diagnosed with depression and 43% had weak social support. HIV-related stigma is still widespread, with 49% believing most people with HIV are rejected and 65% having experienced discrimination due to HIV. The impact of HIV was limited on professional life, but 40% experienced a negative impact on life satisfaction and 41% a negative impact on sexual life. For several domains, people with a recent diagnosis of HIV and long-term survivors had significantly worse scores. This survey also uncovered strengths of people living with HIV, such as positive coping and HIV self-image. Expanding the scope of quality of life in people living with HIV may provide a more complete picture of relevant life domains that may be impacted by living with HIV, but this needs further validation.

Download Full-text

Beyond vision loss: the independent impact of diabetic retinopathy on vision-related quality of life in a Chinese Singaporean population

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313082 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 103 (9) ◽

pp. 1314-1319 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eva K Fenwick ◽

Ryan E K Man ◽

Alfred Tau Liang Gan ◽

Neelam Kumari ◽

Charlene Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Well Being ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Related Quality ◽

The Impact

Background/aimsTo assess the independent impact of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on three domains of vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in a Chinese Singapore population.MethodsThe Singapore Chinese Eye Study (n=3353; 2009–2011) was a population-based, prospective, cross-sectional study conducted at the Singapore Eye Research Institute. The study population included 292 adults with diabetes, with and without DR. DR (better eye) was categorised as presence and absence of any DR; severity of DR (no vision-threatening DR (VTDR); severe non-proliferative DR (NPDR); PDR and/or clinically significant macular oedema and VTDR). Our main outcome was VRQoL which was measured using Rasch-calibrated scores from the ‘Reading’, ‘Mobility’ and ‘Emotional’ domains of the Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire. The relationship between DR and VRQoL was assessed using multiple linear regression models.ResultsOf the 292 individuals (mean age 61.35 ± 9.66 years; 55.8% male), 201 (68.8%), 49 (16.8%), 20 (6.8%), 22 (7.5%) and 27 (9.2%) had no DR, minimal-mild NPDR, moderate-severe NPDR, PDR and VTDR, respectively. Any DR and VTDR were independently associated with 6% and 12% worse Reading scores and 7% and 18% poorer Emotional well-being, respectively, compared with those without DR. These associations persisted after separate adjustment for visual impairment and presenting visual acuity. No significant difference was found in the Mobility domain between persons with and without DR.ConclusionsWe documented that DR, particularly VTDR, was independently associated with restrictions in Reading and Emotional well-being. Understanding factors underlying the detrimental DR-VRQoL relationship may optimise rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with DR.

Download Full-text

Psychiatric and Social Outcome of Liver Transplantation

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.166.4.521 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 166 (4) ◽

pp. 521-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Ian Collis ◽

Andrew Burroughs ◽

Keith Rolles ◽

Geoffrey Lloyd

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Liver Transplantation ◽

Nottingham Health Profile ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Psychiatric Morbidity ◽

Medical Patients ◽

Post Transplantation ◽

Tertiary Referral Centre ◽

Cross Sectional

BackgroundThis study measures psychiatric morbidity, quality of life, and cognitive function after liver transplantation.MethodWe undertook a cross-sectional study, with a longitudinal subgroup. The setting was a tertiary referral centre for liver transplantation. The subjects were 30 post-liver-transplantation patients, including 11 also interviewed before the operation. The main outcome measures were the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).ResultsOf the patients, 8/30 were CIS cases, and 7/30 were GHQ cases. NHP scores were higher than a previous postal study indicated, with less impairment after than before transplant. MMSE scores were 24–30. Median GHQ was 7.0 before operation and 1.0 after operation (P = 0.03), with no significant change in CIS score.ConclusionLiver transplantation improves quality of life, but not to the level of the general population; post-transplantation patients have a prevalence of psychiatric morbidity comparable with that of general medical patients.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in Hypodontia Patients and Patients with Acquired Missing Teeth

Journal of Nobel Medical College ◽

10.3126/jonmc.v6i1.18091 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 77-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shanti Chhetri ◽

Muhammad Waseem Ullah Khan ◽

Nazia Yazdanie

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Oral Health ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Missing Teeth ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Background: Hypodontia is the developmental absence of one or more teeth from the dentition whereas acquired missing teeth are those lost due to carries, periodontal problem or dental trauma. Patients with congenitally missing teeth suffer aesthetic, functional and psychological morbidity to various degree through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Greater understanding of the impact of hypodontia on patient’s quality of life is very important. Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) is considered as an outcome measure to evaluate the consequences of edentulism and the available treatment options.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative survey was carried out in the department of Prosthodontics, de’Montmorency College of Dentistry/Punjab Dental Hospital Lahore from 02/03/2010 to 01/09/2010. Total 80 partially dentate patients were studied which included 40 hypodontia patients and 40 patients with acquired missing teeth. All patients were given OHIP-14 questionnaire and responses were recorded on 5-point Likert scale. The mean scores of the two groups were calculated and compared using chi square test.Results: The total OHIP scores in hypodontia patients was more compared to that in patients with acquired missing teeth and difference was significant in the patient group with 4-5 missing teeth.Conclusion: As the missing teeth number increased, it was found that the OHRQoL in hypodontia patients was more impaired compared to the OHRQoL in patients with acquired missing teeth. Journal of Nobel Medical CollegeVolume 6, Number 1, Issue 10 (January-June, 2017), Page: 77-82

Download Full-text