Surveying veterinary ophthalmologists to assess the advice given to owners of pets with irreversible blindness

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (4) ◽  
pp. e30-e30
Author(s):  
Andre Tavares Somma ◽  
Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira ◽  
Ana Isabella Schafaschek ◽  
Luisa Gatti ◽  
Heidi Featherstone

BackgroundThe primary purpose of this survey was to determine how veterinary ophthalmologists manage cases of irreversible blindness and to report the most common causes of blindness.MethodsRespondents completed a questionnaire sent by email with the cooperation of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and the Latin American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. The questionnaire was developed containing 12 questions with both open and closed multiple-choice response options.ResultsOne hundred and eight veterinary ophthalmologists answered the questionnaire. Of the respondents, 83 per cent had graduated for more than 10 years. Glaucoma (63.56 per cent) was the main cited cause of blindness, followed by progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) (17.80 per cent) and retinal detachment (6.78 per cent). The major concerns of owners refer to the impact of blindness on quality-of-life, (39.31 per cent), followed by depression and anxiety (20 per cent), and environment adaptation (11.72 per cent). General recommendations include avoidance of changes in the domestic environment (18.45 per cent), use of auditory stimulation (14.09 per cent) and avoidance of dangerous areas (12.75 per cent). Almost 31 per cent of professionals do not recommend the use of literature on how to deal with blind pets.ConclusionsThe survey determined glaucoma and PRA as the most common causes of irreversible blindness in pets. Several recommendations that are frequently given to owners of blind pets are presented.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Fatima I. AlNashri ◽  
Hayfa H. Almutary ◽  
Elham A. Al Nagshabandi

Context: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a life-threatening problem of global concern. Living with CKD is associated with many psychological problems, including depression and anxiety, which can directly or indirectly affect the quality of life. Only one review in the existing literature has assessed these associations among CKD patients using different dialysis modalities. However, the experience of these symptoms could be higher among patients on hemodialysis therapy. In this purview, there is a need to narrow the previous work to be more focused on hemodialysis patients. Aim: This scoping review aims to determine the gaps in the knowledge about the impact of anxiety and depression concerning QOL among people undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: The studies selected were those examined the relationships between depression or/and anxiety with quality of life in adult patients on hemodialysis. The CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Pub Med databases were searched for literature published between January 2012 and December 2019. The quality of the included studies was also apprised. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Six studies examined the impact of depression and anxiety on the quality of life. Five studies identified from the review have examined the relationships between depression and quality of life. It was established that the prevalence of anxiety and depression was high among hemodialysis patients, and the same was associated with low quality of life. Conclusion: The literature review highlights the negative associations between anxiety, depression, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients. It is, therefore, essential to screen hemodialysis patients frequently for anxiety and depression using a short-form questionnaire. This screening would allow for providing early interventions, and the potential deterioration of quality of life could be prevented. Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess these relationships. Additionally, further research is needed to determine effective interventional programs to improve the overall quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Salvina Signorelli ◽  
Teresa Surace ◽  
Marcello Migliore ◽  
Eugenio Aguglia

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Literature reports depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric symptoms in cancer patients. Notably, lung cancer is associated with major depressive disorder in 5–13% of cases. The present article aims to give an overview regarding the impact of mood disorders on the outcomes of patients affected by lung cancer. Our review showed that pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy can be useful to improve the quality of life of patients with lung cancer. Moreover, the treatment of depression and anxiety can be associated with a reduced mortality. In conclusion, it is important to consider psychiatric care as important as other adjuvant oncologic therapies in patients with cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Sola ◽  
Susana Rodríguez ◽  
Alejandro Young ◽  
Lourdes Lemus Varela ◽  
Ramón Mir Villamayor ◽  
...  

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the four most common causes of infant mortality in Latin America. Pulse oximetry screening (POS) is useful for early diagnosis and improved outcomes of critical CHD. Here, we describe POS implementation efforts in Latin American countries guided and/or coordinated by the Ibero American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN), as well as the unique challenges that are faced for universal implementation. SIBEN collaborates to improve the neonatal quality of care and outcomes. A few years ago, a Clinical Consensus on POS was finalized. Since then, we have participated in 12 Latin American countries to educate neonatal nurses and neonatologists on POS and to help with its implementation. The findings reveal that despite wide disparities in care that exist between and within countries, and the difficulties and challenges in implementing POS, significant progress has been made. We conclude that universal POS is not easy to implement in Latin America but, when executed, has not only been of significant value for babies with CHD, but also for many with other hypoxemic conditions. The successful and universal implementation of POS in the future is essential for reducing the mortality associated with CHD and other hypoxemic conditions and will ultimately lead to the survival of many more Latin American babies. POS saves newborns’ lives in Latin America.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e036148
Author(s):  
Vivienne C Bachelet ◽  
Víctor A Carrasco ◽  
Fabiana Bravo-Córdova ◽  
Ruben A Díaz ◽  
Francisca J Lizana ◽  
...  

IntroductionQuality of reporting refers to how published articles communicate how the research was done and what was found. Gaps and imprecisions of reporting hamper the assessment of the methodological quality and internal and external validity. The CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) are a set of evidence-based recommendations of the minimum elements to be included in the reporting of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to ensure a complete and transparent account of what was done, how it was done and what was found. Few studies have been conducted on the impact of CONSORT on RCTs published in Latin American and Spanish journals. We aim to assess the reporting quality of RCTs of three clinical specialities published in Spanish and Latin American journals, as well as to assess changes over time and associations of quality with journal and country indicators.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic survey of all RCTs published in Spanish-language journals in three clinical fields (dentistry, neurology and geriatrics) from 1990 to 2018. We will include RCTs from previous work that has identified all RCTs on these medical fields published in Spain and Latin America. We will update this work via handsearching of relevant journals. Assessment of quality of reporting will be conducted independently and in duplicate using the CONSORT 2010 Statement. We will also extract journal and country indicators. We will conduct descriptive statistics and secondary analyses considering the year, country, and journal of publication, among others.Ethics and disseminationThe Universidad de Santiago de Chile’s ethics committee approved the protocol. We will disseminate the results of this work in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference proceedings. We expect to raise awareness among researchers, journal editors and funders on the importance of training in reporting guidelines and using them from the inception of RCT protocols.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 251-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler W. Buckner ◽  
Michelle Witkop ◽  
Christine Guelcher ◽  
Robert F. Sidonio ◽  
Christopher E. Walsh ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with severe congenital hemophilia due to pain and functional impairment associated with hemophilic arthropathy. The impact of mild or moderate hemophilia on HRQoL and on women with hemophilia in particular is less well characterized. Use of standardized instruments for assessment of pain/depression/anxiety also remains uncommon in patients with hemophilia. Objective: B-HERO-S was designed to characterize factors that affect HRQoL in adult patients with hemophilia B (PWH) and caregivers (CG) of affected children (CWH). Methods:US PWH (either gender, age ≥18 years) and CG (age >18 years) of CWH (either gender, age <18 years) were recruited through 3 patient organizations to complete distinct (PWH/CG) ~1 hour internet-based, IRB-approved surveys. In addition to descriptive surveys, adults completed 4 standardized patient reported outcome (PRO) instruments (EQ5D-5L with VAS [0‒100 scale] and calculated index [-0.11‒1.00], brief pain inventory [BPI SFv2, 0‒10 scale], PHQ9 [0‒27 score], and international physical activity questionnaire [IPAQ, low/moderate/high category]); and one disease-specific PRO (hemophilia activities list [HAL, 0‒100 score for domains]). Caregivers completed 2 standardized PROs for depression and anxiety (PHQ9, GAD7 [0‒21 score]). Results PWH: 213 men and 86 women responded to the survey. Median age of participants was 29 years (range 18‒70 years). Severity was self-reported as mild/moderate/severe/inhibitor (74/189/32/4). Comorbidities associated with hemophilia were arthritis (48%), osteoporosis/fractures (43%/11%), pain (acute/chronic: 29%/13%), anxiety (23%), and depression (22%). Most were educated past high school (87%), employed (81%), and married/in a long-term relationship (54%). Despite the preponderance of mild/moderate PWH, most PWH had some pain (EQ5D-5L) and nearly all had problems with usual activities, anxiety/depression, mobility, and self-care (Table 1). PWH reported moderate pain severity/interference (median 5/5); higher scores were observed for women (7/7), PWH with moderate hemophilia (6/7), and those on routine infusions (6/6). Based upon PHQ9, at least mild depression was observed in >75% of the PWH respondents and more often in moderate and severe PWH. More women than men had depression, and those treated with routine infusions reported higher depression scores than those treated on demand. While 94% reported some physical activity, two-thirds were categorized as moderate or high activity; unexpectedly, there were more mild PWH reporting low activity and more severe PWH categorized as high. There were no apparent differences in upper and lower extremity functional ability (HAL) domains or composite scores across hemophilia severity or by gender; PWH on routine infusions had worse scores than those treated on demand. Results CG:150 CG participants, all parents, included fathers/mothers (34/116) with median age 35 years (range 21‒53 years) describing their oldest children <18 years (boys/girls: 121/29; median age 10 years, range <1‒18 years), with mild/moderate/severe/inhibitor (27/84/33/6). Most CG were educated past high school (86%), employed (86%), and married/in a long-term relationship (89%). Based on PHQ9 results, more than half of CG reported at least mild depression; just under half reported mild anxiety according to the GAD7 scores (Table 2). Compared with the PWH results, the differences in depression and anxiety were much more pronounced in CG of children with moderate hemophilia and in mothers. CG of CWH treated with routine infusions vs. on demand reported more depression and anxiety. Limitations: Voluntary response bias may limit generalizability of these findings as PWH/CG with greater impact may have been more likely to participate. Conclusions: These findings indicate that pain, functional impairment, and depression/anxiety may contribute to the impact of hemophilia B on education, work, activity, and relationships described in prior reports from B-HERO-S. This is the first study to examine HRQoL in PWH of both genders and CG of affected CWH with mild-to-severe hemophilia B using multiple PRO instruments. These results suggest unmet needs particularly in mild/moderate PWH and women. Comparisons between known groups and analysis of HRQoL predictors are underway. Disclosures Buckner: Genentech: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Baxalta: Consultancy. Witkop:Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Other: Advisory Boards, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BioEmergent: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Consultancy. Guelcher:Novo Nordisk: Other: Advisory Boards, Speakers Bureau; Biogen Idec: Other: Advisory Boards; Baxter/Baxalta: Other: Advisory Boards, Speakers Bureau; Octapharma: Other: Advisory Boards; Grifols: Other: Advisory Boards; Solution Sight: Speakers Bureau. Sidonio:Biogen: Honoraria, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Honoraria; Baxalta: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Emergent Solutions: Honoraria. Walsh:Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Baxalta: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy. Kessler:Octapharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Research Funding; Grifols: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Biogen: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; LFB: Other: Member of DSMB; Baxalta: Consultancy, Research Funding. Owens:Haplomics Inc.: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Iyer:Novo Nordisk: Employment. Cooper:Novo Nordisk: Employment.


2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Marie Friedrich ◽  
Sonja Lively ◽  
Linda Rubenstein ◽  
Kathleen Buckwalter

Siblings of persons with schizophrenia may provide primary or secondary care for their sibling and support to parents who are primary care givers. These siblings experience stress and the accompanying sequelae of decreased quality of life, grief, chronic illness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Comprehensive measures of sibling stress have not been published. Before interventions to help siblings can be created, health professionals need such an assessment. The Friedrich-Lively Instrument to Assess the Impact of Schizophrenia on Siblings (FLIISS) has been developed to meet the needs of both health workers and siblings. The instrument has a strong conceptual basis adapted from Pearlin’s model of stress in caregiving and was preceded by pilot work that evaluated both quantitative and qualitative data. In this article, (Part I), the development of the instrument and its relationships to the conceptual model are described. Health professionals can use the instrument for collecting information that will increase their ability to identify sources of stress faced by siblings of persons with schizophrenia, and from this assessment they may develop interventions for this underserved population.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavna Mukund ◽  
Rejani Thudalikunil Gopalan

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) manifest a wide range of stress responses ranging from disbelief, denial, fear to extreme conditions of anxiety disorders, depression and even suicidal thoughts. These complications can have a significant impact on daily functioning and greatly diminish quality of life. Mental wellbeing and Quality of Life can help in better management of stress and facilitate adaptive coping among PLWHA. Aim: The research examined the impact of mental wellbeing and Quality of Life on Depression, Anxiety and Stress among people living with HIV/AIDS infection. Research Design: Cross sectional survey design was used. Sample: A sample of 60 people (males and females of equal number) over the age of 18 years and with the diagnosis for HIV/AIDS for more than six months participated in the study. Tools used: To assess the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA, DASS scale was used and to assess their psychological wellbeing, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being scale was used. In order to assess their present status of QOL regarding the illness, WHO’s QOL HIV-BREF Scale was used. Results: Majority of the PLWHA had moderate level of anxiety and mild level of depression after being diagnosed. Most of the participants have positive mental well-being and had enhanced quality of life. Conclusion: A direct effect of mental wellbeing has been found on the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA indicating that higher the mental wellbeing of the PLWHA, the greater is the likelihood that they do not suffer from depression, exhibit less anxiety and are living a stress free life and vice versa. The study also found direct impact of QOL on psychological distress, depression and anxiety among PLWHA i.e. poor QOL of PLWHA makes them more prone to and vulnerable to stress, depression and anxiety and vice versa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (S1) ◽  
pp. 187-203

Abstract This paper examines the factors which determine the impact of network communication and network connections on the likelihood of contracting the new coronavirus in the European and Latin American countries. The author presents several data sets to prove the following suggestions: 1) The generalized indicators of economic development and society’s globalization are not indicators of how vulnerable a country’s population may be in a pandemic; 2) Not the economy as such, but the conventional way of life of people, their daily behaviour and habits have a decisive influence on the disease spread; 3) Factors of prevention of illness and health promotion such as the habit of exercise, distance, and network communications use modern online services to become protective factors against the risk of infection only at a certain level of development of the country; 4) In the developed countries, a much broader set of factors than in the developing countries determine protection against disease risk; 5) The evolution of a networked society opens up significant opportunities for the developing countries to improve the quality of life, and the emergence of new, progressive traditions.


Urban Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús González-Pérez

After the impact of the 2007 crisis and post-crisis austerity policies, cities are being reconfigured under the auspices of inequality. Social divides are widening, and there is a growing population of excluded and poor people. The urban and welfare state crises of the 1980s are currently being replicated, albeit even more acutely, given that the welfare state in many countries is very weak and there are worrying signs of a crisis of democracy. In the present urban order of globalization, new players have emerged from the financial sector, including investment funds and the so-called vulture funds. Our contribution to this Special Issue is an analysis of urban inequality today based on theoretical and empirical research. The issue includes articles on social movements and resistance in Latin American cities, vulnerability in crisis-hit Spanish cities, and the segregation and quality of basic services in US cities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document