Assessment of quality of life based on psychological, somatovegetative, and urogenital health problems among postmenopausal women in Urban Puducherry, South India: A cross-sectional observational study

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the impact of oral health on quality of life and to examine the association with sociodemographic, clinical staging and dental variables in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study with sample composed of 89 women treated at a Reference Hospital in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, between January and December 2012. Two scripts in the form of interviews were used, one to record participants’ information; and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), to evaluate the impacts produced by the oral condition on quality of life. Descriptive analysis of data was performed. The comparison of the percentage of the impact dimensions with independent variables was tested by the chi-square test or the Fisher exact test, when appropriate. To assess the strength of association between exposure and event, odds ratio was calculated. Significance level of 5% was adopted. Results The impact was 28.1%, there was a statistically significant association with variables income (p = 0.039) and reason for the visit to the oral health professional (p = 0.012). Conclusion Studies on quality of life of cancer patients are of fundamental importance for understanding the impact of oral health problems on quality of life.

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An observational study on quality of life and preferences to sustain life in locked-in state

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000008064 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (10) ◽

pp. e938-e945 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Magdalena Kuzma-Kozakiewicz ◽

Peter M. Andersen ◽

Katarzyna Ciecwierska ◽

Cynthia Vázquez ◽

Olga Helczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Observational Study ◽

Physical Function ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychosocial Adaptation ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hastened Death

ObjectiveThis is an observational study on well-being and end-of-life preferences in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the locked-in state (LIS) in a Polish sample within the EU Joint Programme–Neurodegenerative Disease Research study NEEDSinALS (NEEDSinALS.com).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, patients with ALS in LIS (n = 19) were interviewed on well-being (quality of life, depression) as a measure of psychosocial adaptation, coping mechanisms, and preferences towards life-sustaining treatments (ventilation, percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy) and hastened death. Also, clinical data were recorded (ALS Functional Rating Scale–revised version). Standardized questionnaires (Anamnestic Comparative Self-Assessment [ACSA], Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW), ALS Depression Inventory–12 items [ADI-12], schedule of attitudes toward hastened death [SAHD], Motor Neuron Disease Coping Scale) were used, which were digitally transcribed; answers were provided via eye-tracking control. In addition, caregivers were asked to judge patients' well-being.ResultsThe majority of patients had an ACSA score >0 and a SEIQoL score >50% (indicating positive quality of life) and ADI-12 <29 (indicating no clinically relevant depression). Physical function did not reflect subjective well-being; even more, those with no residual physical function had a positive well-being. All patients would again choose the life-sustaining techniques they currently used and their wish for hastened death was low (SAHD <10). Caregivers significantly underestimated patient's well-being.InterpretationSome patients with ALS in LIS maintain a high sense of well-being despite severe physical restrictions. They are content with their life-sustaining treatments and have a strong will to live, which both may be underestimated by their families and public opinion.

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