scholarly journals Cannabis Significantly Reduces the Use of Prescription Opioids and Improves Quality of Life in Authorized Patients: Results of a Large Prospective Study

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Lucas ◽  
Susan Boyd ◽  
M -J Milloy ◽  
Zach Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
World Health ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Abstract Objectives This article presents findings from a large prospective examination of Canadian medical cannabis patients, with a focus on the impacts of cannabis on prescription opioid use and quality of life over a 6-month period. Methods The Tilray Observational Patient Study took place at 21 medical clinics throughout Canada. This analysis includes 1,145 patients who had at least one postbaseline visit, with follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Instruments included a comprehensive cannabis use inventory, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and a detailed prescription drug questionnaire. Results Participants were 57.6% female, with a median age of 52 years. Baseline opioid use was reported by 28% of participants, dropping to 11% at 6 months. Daily opioid use went from 152 mg morphine milligram equivalent (MME) at baseline to 32.2 mg MME at 6 months, a 78% reduction in mean opioid dosage. Similar reductions were also seen in the other four primary prescription drug classes identified by participants, and statistically significant improvements were reported in all four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusions This study provides an individual-level perspective of cannabis substitution for opioids and other prescription drugs, as well as associated improvement in quality of life over 6 months. The high rate of cannabis use for chronic pain and the subsequent reductions in opioid use suggest that cannabis may play a harm reduction role in the opioid overdose crisis, potentially improving the quality of life of patients and overall public health.

scholarly journals Application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) to patients with cataract

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. e2016005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Gholami ◽  
Mahmood Tavakoli Araghi ◽  
Fatemeh Shamsabadi ◽  
Mahdiye Bayat ◽  
Fatemeh Dabirkhani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Life Instrument ◽  
The World ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization

Life’s quality of chronically dialyzed children in Poland

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-124
Author(s):  
A. Juzyszyn ◽  
D. Kunecka ◽  
B. Musiał
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Therapeutic Education ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Stage Renal Disease

Introduction: The paper presents the possibility of assessing the quality of life (QOL) of children on dialysis. Purpose: To evaluate the QOL depending on the health status of children on dialysis, to compare the subjective assessment of the QOL and to identify some of the factors independently affecting the QOL. Materials and methods: The study has been conducted on a group of 28 children on dialysis. Research tools: Poland abbreviated version of the survey assessing the quality of life of The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL); survey constructed on the basis of the Polish version of Kidney Disease and Quality of LifeTM Short Form (KDQOL-SFTM) Version 1.2 and a questionnaire assessing QOL of children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease on dialysis and transplantation of kidneys by Rubik, Grenda, Jakubowska - Winecka and Dabrowska. Results: There were no significant differences in QOL between children treated with peritoneal dialysis and Hemodialisis (HD). While there is a strong correlation between the severity of depressive symptoms and the treatment's duration, financial status and parents' education. Conclusions: The phenomenon of reduced QOL must be counteracted. Medical pediatric staff of dialyze centers should especially pay attention to the problem of life’s quality, due to the intensity of disease’s impact on growing organism, should actively counteract the phenomena of its decrease by continuous therapeutic education of patient and his or her family.

Quality of life assessment after central corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: comparative evaluation of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Bref

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Thakar ◽  
Solomon Christopher ◽  
Vedantam Rajshekhar
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Short Form Health Survey ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Short Form Health

Object In this study, the authors assessed the construct validity and the reliability of the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and compared the performance of the WHOQOL-Bref and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in assessing quality of life (QOL) in patients with CSM. Methods In this prospective study, 70 patients with CSM were assessed preoperatively and again 1 year after central corpectomy using the Nurick scale, the SF-36, and the WHOQOL-Bref. Construct validity and reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref, its responsiveness compared with that of the SF-36, and the correlations between the 2 scales were studied. Results The WHOQOL-Bref was found to be valid (p < 0.001, Cuzick test for trend between the physical domain of the WHOQOL-Bref and Nurick grade) and reliable (Cronbach α > 0.7). It had smaller floor and ceiling effects (ranges 1.4–7.1% and 0–7.1%, respectively) than the SF-36 (ranges 2.9–71.4% and 0–14.1%, respectively). There was significant postoperative improvement in patient scores on all the SF-36 scales (p < 0.001) and the physical, psychological, and environment domains of the WHOQOL-Bref (p < 0.001). The SF-36 scales were more responsive to change (relative efficiency range 0.24–1) than the WHOQOL-Bref domains (relative efficiency range 0.002–0.73). Among scales measuring similar concepts, only the physical functioning and bodily pain scales of the SF-36 had a moderate correlation (r = 0.57 and 0.53, respectively; p < 0.001) with the physical domain of WHOQOL-Bref. Many of the scales of these 2 QOL instruments unexpectedly had a fair correlation with one another (r range = 0.2–0.4). Conclusions The WHOQOL-Bref, like the SF-36, is valid and reliable in assessing outcome in patients with CSM. It measures impairment in CSM in a more uniform manner than the SF-36, but its domains are less responsive to postoperative changes. Because the WHOQOL-Bref measures different constructs and has additive value, it should be used along with the SF-36 for QOL assessment in patients with CSM.

Association between quality of life and team achievement among wheelchair basketball players – a survey study

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Eilat ◽  
Barak Hazor ◽  
Eli Carmeli
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Short Form ◽  
National Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Wheelchair Basketball ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract: Wheelchair basketball, a popular sport that allows for the inclusion of different levels of disability, has been played since 1946. It became a Paralympics sport in 1988. The aim of the study was to examine the association between quality of life (QOL) and achievement among wheelchair basketball players on a national level.Seven German players and 11 Israeli players participated in the study. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaires were used to measure QOL, and a sociodemographic questionnaire was used for individual athletic lifestyles.: Due to low compliance by several countries, only Germany and Israel were surveyed. There was no significant difference in the QOL scores between Israeli and German players. Israeli players were, on average, older than German players and had higher incomes. German players dedicated more time to the sport than Israeli players.QOL and team achievement were influenced by hours of practice and younger age, which were related to physical ability requirements for athletic performance. QOL was not contingent on income level or achievement.

scholarly journals The Association between Neuroticism Personality Traits and Depressive Psychopathology with Quality of Life among Diabetic Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-222
Author(s):  
Hatta Sidi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Medical Condition ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic medical condition associated with psychological sequelae like depression and linked with specific personality traits. This study researched on quality of life (QoL) among patients with DM and its association with mood symptoms and personality traits. 291 diabetic respondents were recruited, where their socio-demographic data and other relevant profile were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Big Five Inventory (BFI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF). The mean age of the respondents was 60.43 years with approximately half of the respondents being males and married. Most respondents have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (N = 261, 89.7%) and the median duration of diabetes diagnosis was 14.17 years (SD = 9.72). The association between personality traits, psychological complications, and QoL after adjusting for demographic, personal, and clinical characteristics were studied. Based on the multiple linear regression models, after adjusting for age, employment, education status, monthly income, perceived social support, duration of DM and other variables, we found that the neuroticism (BFI) and mean BDI score was associated with poorer QoL, respectively. 1-unit increase in these two variables leading to 3.5- and 0.6-point decrease in QoL, (-3.465 (95% confidence interval, CI -5.788 to -1.143) and -0.560 (95% CI -0.779 to -0.341)) with p<0.001, respectively. An intervention focusing on the neuroticism and elevating the depressive psychopathology would help in the psychological management of patients with DM.

scholarly journals Examination of the quality of life according to the physical activity status of parents who have disabled individualEngelli bireye sahip ebeveynlerin fiziksel aktivite durumlarına göre yaşam kalitelerinin incelenmesi

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Karakaş ◽  
Çetin Yaman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Short Form ◽  
T Test ◽  
World Health ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Social Area

In this research it was aimed to examine of the quality of life according to physical activity status of parents who have disabled individual. In the study using the descriptive survey model, convenience sampling was used for the creation of the sample. The parents of 164 disabled individuals(132 mother; =40,5±8,90) ve 32 father; =46,21±9,74) who attended to various special education institutions in Sakarya province participated in the research. The children of the participating families have autism, mental, visual, hearing and physical disabilities. In this study, a Family Information Form, which was prepared by the researcher, was used to reach the demographic informations of parents. With the aim of measuring the quality of life in parents, World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref Form (WHOQOL-BREF), which was adopted to Turkish by Eser and his friends (1999) and for measuring the level of physical activity of parents, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), which was adoped to Turkish by Öztürk (2005) were used in the study. All data were collected by face-to-face interview technique. WHOQOL-BREF scale consists of 5 sub-dimensions including the physical area, psychological area, social area, environmental area and environmental TR area created by adding a question in Turkish adaptation and 27 questions. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of physical area subscale is .77., psychological area subscale is .71, social area is .61, environmental area is .81 and environmental area Turkey is .78. IPAQ self-administered 'last 7 days' short form was used in this study. The form provides information on time spent on walking, moderate-severe and violent activities. The calculation of the total score of the short form is based on the sum of time (minutes) and frequency (days) (Öztürk, 2005). After the descriptive statistical processes had been applied in the  analysis of datas, an independent t-test and chi-square test to detect from which groups the differences between the groups originate. Data was evaluated by using SPSS for Windows 15 software.As a result, the fact that the quality of life parents who have disabled individual and doing sport was found to be at a higher level of those who have individual but not doing sport. In addition to this doing sport was detected to increase the quality of life parents who have a disabled individual. As a result, it is thought that the parents of physically active parents have higher quality of life and physical activity levels and as a result they will provide a better and healthier life for their children.Their families are thought to be the first step in raising awareness and guiding them in order to enable them to live as healthy families and to raise healthy individuals. ÖzetBu araştırmada, engelli bireye sahip ebeveynlerin fiziksel aktivite durumlarına göre yaşam kalitelerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Tarama modeli kullanılan çalışmada, örneklemin oluşturulmasında kolayda örnekleme yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmaya Sakarya ilinde çeşitli özel eğitim kurumlarına devam eden 164 engelli bireyin ebeveynleri (132 anne ve 32 baba) katılmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan ailelerin çocukları otizm, zihinsel, görme, işitme, bedensel engele sahiptirler. Kişilerin demografik bilgilerine ulaşma amaçlı araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan aile bilgi formu, ebeveynlerin yaşam kalitesini ölçmeye yönelik Eser vd.’nin (1999) Türkçe’ye uyarladığı Dünya Sağlık Örgütü Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği-Kısa Formu (WHOQOL-BREF) ve ebeveynlerin fiziksel aktivite düzeylerini ölçmek için Öztürk’ün (2005) Türkçe’ye uyarladığı Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi-Kısa Form (IPAQ) kullanılmıştır. Tüm veriler yüz yüze görüşme tekniği ile toplanmıştır. WHOQOL-BREF ölçeği bedensel alan, ruhsal alan, sosyal alan, çevresel alan ve Türkçe’ye uyarlamada bir sorunun eklenmesiyle oluşturulan çevresel TR alan olmak üzere toplam 5 alt boyuttan ve 27 sorudan oluşmaktadır. Alt boyutlara ait iç tutarlılık katsayıları sırasıyla, .77, .71, .61, .81, .78 olarak tespit edilmiştir. IPAQ ölçeği yürüme, orta-şiddetli ve şiddetli aktivitelerde harcanan zaman hakkında bilgi vermektedir ve skorunun hesaplanması süre (dakika) ve frekans (gün) toplamından yapılmaktadır. Elde edilen verilerin analizinde betimsel istatistiksel işlemler uygulandıktan sonra, değişkenler arası farklılıkları ölçmek amacıyla independent samples t-test ve ki-kare testi yapılmıştır. Veriler SPSS 15.0 programında değerlendirilmiş ve anlamlılık düzeyi olarak 0.05 kullanılmıştır. Analiz sonuçları incelendiğinde, fiziksel aktivite yapan engelli bireye sahip ebeveynlerin bedensel alan hariç tüm alanlarının ve fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinin fiziksel aktivite yapmayanlardan yüksek olduğu bulunmuştur. Dolayısıyla fiziksel aktivitenin ruhsal, sosyal, çevresel yaşam kalitesini olumlu yönde etkilediği ve fiziksel aktivitenin engelli bireye sahip ebeveynlerin yaşam kalitesini yükselttiği söylenebilir. Sonuç olarak, fiziksel aktivite yapan ebeveynlerin yaşam kalitelerinin ve fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinin daha yüksek olduğu buna bağlı olarak da çocukları için daha güzel ve sağlıklı bir yaşam sunabilme imkânları olacağı düşünülmektedir. Aileleri bu konuda bilinçlendirmek ve yönlendirmek onların daha sağlıklı aileler olarak yaşamasına ve sağlıklı bireyler yetiştirmesine imkân sağlamak için atılması gereken ilk adım olarak düşünülmektedir.

An ethnography exploring the quality of life of people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe: Implications for health service policy and practice

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherphard Chidarikire ◽  
Merylin Cross ◽  
Isabelle Skinner ◽  
Michelle Cleary
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental disorder affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. Although understanding peoples’ experiences of living with an illness is core to assessment, planning and delivering culture specific health care, little is known about the experiences of people living with schizophrenia in resource-poor countries. This article reports on a study that explored the everyday lives of eighteen people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe and its impact on their quality of life. Methods This focused ethnography was conducted over a three-month period in 2015. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, non-participant observational fieldwork, and the short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Interview data were digitally recorded, transcribed and translated from Shona (local language) to English. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to analyse questionnaire data. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using an established framework. Results Survey data indicate internal consistency in the psychological and social relationships domains and poor quality of life for people aged 20-40. The major factors related to quality of life were: age, gender, family dislocation: living with stigma and discrimination; and limited and variable access to treatment and support. Obtaining and paying for antipsychotic medications were challenging and female participants recounted experiencing gender-based stigma. Conclusions Findings from our study suggest that age, gender, family dislocation, stigma, discrimination, and variable limited access to affordable medications and support undermine quality of life by disrupting participants’ ability to function in socially acceptable ways, their sense of belonging and self-worth, and family, work and social relations. Strengthening access to mental health services, addressing the affordability and availability of medications and initiatives to alleviate stigma and promote a sense of belonging, especially for younger adults and women should be a priority for government and health service providers. Further research on managing mental health issues such as schizophrenia in Zimbabwe, should focus on initiatives to strengthen quality of life.

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