scholarly journals A Children’s Asthma Education Program: Roaring Adventures of Puff (RAP), Improves Quality of Life

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna L McGhan ◽  
Eric Wong ◽  
Heather M Sharpe ◽  
Patrick A Hessel ◽  
Puish Mandhane ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: It is postulated that children with asthma who receive an interactive, comprehensive education program would improve their quality of life, asthma management and asthma control compared with children receiving usual care.OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and impact of ‘Roaring Adventures of Puff’ (RAP), a six-week childhood asthma education program administered by health professionals in schools.METHODS: Thirty-four schools from three health regions in Alberta were randomly assigned to receive either the RAP asthma program (intervention group) or usual care (control group). Baseline measurements from parent and child were taken before the intervention, and at six and 12 months.RESULTS: The intervention group had more smoke exposure at baseline. Participants lost to follow-up had more asthma symptoms. Improvements were significantly greater in the RAP intervention group from baseline to six months than in the control group in terms of parent’s perceived understanding and ability to cope with and control asthma, and overall quality of life (P<0.05). On follow-up, doctor visits were reduced in the control group.CONCLUSION: A multilevel, comprehensive, school-based asthma program is feasible, and modestly improved asthma management and quality of life outcomes. An interactive group education program offered to children with asthma at their school has merit as a practical, cost-effective, peer-supportive approach to improve health outcomes.

2021 ◽  
pp. 105477382110461
Author(s):  
Zeynel Urcan ◽  
Merve Kolcu

Nurse-led education and follow-up for stroke patients may facilitate management and improve quality of life. This study investigated the effect of a nurse-led education program for stroke patients on sleep and life quality. A total of 92 stroke patients (46 in the intervention group, 46 in the control group) aged 18 to 75 years who were independently mobile (less than or equal to one assistive device) and had no other neurologic or psychiatric disorders or history of sleep disorder prior to stroke were included. Patients randomized to the intervention group completed a 20-week education and follow-up program including information about stroke, rehabilitation, adaptation to daily life, and the importance of sleep quality. In the posttest, the intervention group had significantly higher sleep quality and stroke-specific quality of life scores than the control group. This study may serve as a guide for nurses who work with stroke patients.


Salmand ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-495
Author(s):  
Maryam Moradi ◽  
◽  
Hamideh Mohammadzadeh ◽  
Reza Noori ◽  
Kokab Basiri Moghadam ◽  
...  

Objectives: Low quality sleep is one of the most common problems in old age. The present study aims to determine the effect of a sleep hygiene education program using Telephone Follow-Up (TFU) method on the sleep quality of the elderly. Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 eligible elderly people aged 60-74 years who were selected using a systematic random sampling method and were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a one-hour face-to-face education session on sleep hygiene. The TFU were carried out two times per week in the first month and once a week in the second month after intervention. The control group received routine care. The data collection tools were a demographic form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The PSQI was completed for both groups immediately after the second month. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean PSQI score before intervention in the intervention (8.02) and control (7.47) groups (P=0.32), but after the intervention, the mean PSQI score in the intervention group (5.42) was significantly reduced compared to the control group (7.67) (P<0.001). Conclusion: Sleep hygiene education program based on TFU improves the sleep quality of the elderly. It is recommended that health care providers use this method to improve the sleep quality of the elderly.


Author(s):  
Qi-Liang Zhang ◽  
Yu-Qing Lei ◽  
Jian-Feng Liu ◽  
Hua Cao ◽  
Qiang Chen

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using telemedicine to improve the quality of life of parents of infants with congenital heart disease surgery after discharge. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in a provincial hospital in China from November 2020 to April 2021 to compare the quality of life of parents of infants with congenital heart disease surgery after discharge between the WeChat follow-up group and the outpatient follow-up group. A total of 84 patients (42 in each group) and 168 parents (84 in each group) participated in this study. Results One month after discharge, the SAS and SDS scores of parents in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P&lt;0.05). Compared with the SAS and SDS scores at discharge, the scores of parents in the intervention group were significantly lower at one month after discharge (P&lt;0.05), while the scores of parents in the control group were similar at one month after discharge (P&gt;0.05). At discharge, in both the intervention group and the control group, the SAS and SDS scores of the mothers were higher than those of the fathers (P&lt;0.05). One month after discharge, in the control group, the SAS and SDS scores of the mothers were higher than those of the fathers (P&lt;0.05). One month after discharge, in the intervention group, the SAS and SDS scores of the mothers were similar to those of the fathers (P&gt;0.05). The comparison of the SAS and SDS scores of parents with different education levels showed that in both the intervention group and control group, the lower the parents’ educational levels were, the higher their SAS and SDS scores were (P&lt;0.05). One month after discharge, in the control group, the lower the parents’ education levels were, the higher their SAS and SDS scores (P&lt;0.05). One month after discharge, in the intervention group, the SAS and SDS scores were similar among parents with different educational levels. The results of the WHOQOL-BREF scale showed that the scores of the physiological, psychological, social and environmental fields at one month after discharge in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion Providing health education and medical support to the parents of infants with congenital heart disease surgery after discharge via telemedicine can effectively relieve the parents’ anxiety and depression and improve their quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricard Carrillo Muñoz ◽  
Jose Luis Ballve Moreno ◽  
Ivan Villar Balboa ◽  
Yolanda Rando Matos ◽  
Oriol Cunillera Puertolas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (pc-BPPV) causes physical, functional, and emotional impairment. The treatment of choice is the Epley manoeuvre (EM). The purpose of the study was to compare the impact of the EM and a sham manoeuvre in primary care on self-perceived disability. Method: Randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial conducted in primary care with a follow-up of 1 year. Patients aged ≥18 years old diagnosed with pc-BPPV according to the Dix-Hallpike test (DHT) were randomised to an intervention (EM) group or a control (sham manoeuvre) group. The main study covariables were age, sex, history of depression and anxiety, presence of nystagmus in the DHT, patient-perceived disability assessed with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory-screening version (DHI-S). Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate mixed Tobit analyses. Results: Overall, 134 patients were studied: 66 in the intervention group and 68 in the control group. Median age was 52 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38.25–68.00 years) and 76.12% of the patients were women. The DHT triggered nystagmus in 40.30% of patients. The median total DHI-S score for the overall sample at baseline was 16 (IQR, 8.00–22.00); 16 [IQR, 10.5–24.0] vs 10 [6.0–14.0] for women vs men ( P <0.001) and 16 [IQR, 10.0-24.0] vs 12 [IQR, 8.0–18.0] for patients without nystagmus vs those with nystagmus ( P =0.033).Patients treated with the EM experienced a mean reduction of 2.03 points in DHI-S score over the follow-up period compared with patients in the sham group. Conclusion: Pc-BPPV affects the quality of life of primary care patients. A single EM can improve self-perceptions of disability by around 2 points on the DHI-S scale, Trial registration : ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01969513. Retrospectively registered. First Posted: October 25, 2013. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01969513


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Krohn ◽  
CB Rygh ◽  
TM Norekvaal

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Chest pain is a symptom closely linked to coronary disease (CAD) and a common complaint in the general practitioner’s office. Nevertheless, most of these complaints are benign and of non-coronary origin. Computed Tomography (CT) is the main diagnostic tool to investigate the coronary arteries, an examination with a low probability of false-negative result (&lt;1%). Despite negative findings of CAD, this patient group still experience higher degree of morbidity and anxiety and decreased quality of life when compared to a population without chest pain. Purpose To determine the effect of an intervention for reliance in the CT-examination and recurring chest pain in patients with non-coronary chest pain in follow-up after one month. Methods Patients with chest pain, but with normal CT-findings, i.e. no CAD, were randomised into two groups. The intervention group received extended information about the examination, such as the reliability of the result due to CTs low probability of false-negative result and also the great prognostic value it provides. The examination result was then conveyed to the patient. The control group received standard care; i.e no extended information was given and the examination result was obtained from their general practitioner after one week. The effect of the intervention was measured with a specific question regarding reliance in the CT-examination and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at follow-up after one month. Results The study included 92 patients; follow-up response rate was 80%. Of the participants were 63 females (68%), and the mean age was 51 years. Analysis showed that the intervention group had significantly higher reliance in the CT-examination (p = 0.016) and significantly reduced incidences of chest pain (p = 0.042) when compared to the control group at 1-month follow-up (Figure 1). Conclusion This intervention demonstrates that relatively simple actions may have a great impact on patient care. Providing patients with extended information and an early communication of CT results have a positive effect on reliance and chest pain after one month. Such an effect may lead to lower morbidity, less anxiety and a higher quality of life in this group. Further examinations after six or twelve months might provide additional knowledge of the long-term effect of the performed intervention. Abstract Figure 1


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Din Mohammadi ◽  
Mohsen Dadashi ◽  
Elahe Ahmadnia ◽  
leila Janani ◽  
Roghieh Kharaghani

Abstract Background: Domestic violence is considered as one of the most common social problems, which can affect the quality of life of women. The problem of preventing and controlling this problem, especially during pregnancy, is one of the basic challenges of health systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of counseling based on conflict solution on the rate of violence and quality of life of pregnant women at risk of domestic violence. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial on 90 pregnant women, who were selected from maternity wards in health center number three in Zanjan city. Women who had inclusion criteria based on the domestic violence conflict tactics scale (CTS-2) selected with convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of intervention (45 people) and control (45 people) with a blocked randomization method. The intervention group received six counseling sessions with a solution-focused approach and the control group received no intervention. Study tool included demographic and reproductive questionnaires CTS- 2 and short form health survey (SF-36); which completed at baseline and six weeks follow-up in both groups. The results were analyzed by nonparametric ANCOVA using SPSS and R soft wares.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in the physical violence (P=0.001), psychological violence (P=0.001), and sexual violence (P=0.001) in the intervention group compared to the control group at six weeks follow- up. There were significant improvements in negotiation scores in the intervention group (P˂0.001). Moreover, there were significant differences in the quality of life scores (P=0.001), vitality (p=0.003), psychological health (p=0.004), bodily pain (p=0.014), physical functioning (p=0.023), and social functioning (p=0.019) between the two groups at the follow- up period.Conclusion: According to the result, individual counseling based on a solution-based approach reduces the amount of domestic violence and increases the quality of life of pregnant women at risk of violence.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT2017040628352N4. Date of registration: August 20th 2017.


2022 ◽  
Vol 2022 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Peijuan He ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Songna Shen

This study aimed to explore the application value of the intelligent medical communication system based on the Apriori algorithm and cloud follow-up platform in out-of-hospital continuous nursing of breast cancer patients. In this study, the Apriori algorithm is optimized by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and graphics processing unit (GPU) to improve its data mining speed. At the same time, a cloud follow-up platform-based intelligent mobile medical communication system is established, which includes the log-in, my workstation, patient records, follow-up center, satisfaction management, propaganda and education center, SMS platform, and appointment management module. The subjects are divided into the control group (routine telephone follow-up, 163) and the intervention group (continuous nursing intervention, 216) according to different nursing methods. The cloud follow-up platform-based intelligent medical communication system is used to analyze patients’ compliance, quality of life before and after nursing, function limitation of affected limb, and nursing satisfaction under different nursing methods. The running time of Apriori algorithm is proportional to the data amount and inversely proportional to the number of nodes in the cluster. Compared with the control group, there are statistical differences in the proportion of complete compliance data, the proportion of poor compliance data, and the proportion of total compliance in the intervention group ( P < 0.05 ). After the intervention, the scores of the quality of life in the two groups are statistically different from those before treatment ( P < 0.05 ), and the scores of the quality of life in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). The proportion of patients with limited and severely limited functional activity of the affected limb in the intervention group is significantly lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). The satisfaction rate of postoperative nursing in the intervention group is significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.001 ), and the proportion of basically satisfied and dissatisfied patients in the control group was higher than that in the intervention group ( P < 0.05 ).


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Guhl ◽  
Andrew D Althouse ◽  
Alexandra M Pusateri ◽  
Everlyne Kimani ◽  
Michael K Paasche-Orlow ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We conducted a pilot trial of individuals with AF using a smartphone to provide a relational agent as well as rhythm monitoring. We employed our pilot to measure acceptability and adherence and to assess its effectiveness in improving HRQoL and adherence. OBJECTIVE This study aims to measure acceptability and adherence and to assess its effectiveness to improve HRQoL and adherence. METHODS Participants were recruited from ambulatory clinics and randomized to a 30-day intervention or usual care. We collected baseline characteristics and conducted baseline and 30-day assessments of HRQoL using the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality of Life (AFEQT) measure and self-reported adherence to anticoagulation. The intervention consisted of a smartphone-based relational agent, which simulates face-to-face counseling and delivered content on AF education, adherence, and symptom monitoring with prompted rhythm monitoring. We compared differences in AFEQT and adherence at 30 days, adjusted for baseline values. We quantified participants’ use and acceptability of the intervention. RESULTS A total of 120 participants were recruited and randomized (59 to control and 61 to intervention) to the pilot trial (mean age 72.1 years, SD 9.10; 62/120, 51.7% women). The control group had a 95% follow-up, and the intervention group had a 93% follow-up. The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher improvement in total AFEQT scores (adjusted mean difference 4.5; 95% CI 0.6-8.3; <i>P</i>=.03) and in daily activity (adjusted mean difference 7.1; 95% CI 1.8-12.4; <i>P</i>=.009) compared with the control between baseline and 30 days. The intervention group showed significantly improved self-reported adherence to anticoagulation therapy at 30 days (intervention 3.5%; control 23.2%; adjusted difference 16.6%; 95% CI 2.8%-30.4%; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Qualitative assessments of acceptability identified that participants found the relational agent useful, informative, and trustworthy. CONCLUSIONS Individuals randomized to a 30-day smartphone intervention with a relational agent and rhythm monitoring showed significant improvement in HRQoL and adherence. Participants had favorable acceptability of the intervention with both objective use and qualitative assessments of acceptability.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9617-9617
Author(s):  
B. Oh ◽  
P. Butow ◽  
B. Mullan ◽  
S. Clarke ◽  
P. Beale ◽  
...  

9617 Background: The quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients is often diminished due to the side effects of treatment and symptoms of the disease itself. This study examines the impact of Medical Qigong (MQ), including gentle exercise and relaxation through meditation and breathing exercise based on the Chinese Medicine theory of energy channels, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, side effects, mood status and inflammation. Methods: One hundred sixty two patients diagnosed with a range of cancers recruited from three university teaching hospitals were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (n=83) that received usual health care and an intervention group (n=79) who participated in a MQ program for 10 weeks in addition to receiving usual health care at the hospital. Quality of life and symptoms were measured by the FACT-G, cancer related fatigue by FACT-F and mood status by POMS. The inflammatory marker serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was also monitored serially. Results: Regression analysis indicated that the MQ intervention group significantly improved on measures of overall QOL (t144= -5.761, p<0.001), fatigue (t153= -5.621, p<0.001), mood disturbance (t122=2.346, p=0.021) and inflammation (CRP) (t99=2.042, p<0.044) compared to the usual care control group after controlling for baseline variables. Analysis of the FACT-G subscales revealed that the MQ intervention group also significantly improved in satisfaction with sex life (t92=-3.783, p<0.001) and reduced side effects of nausea (t152=-2.071, p=0.040) and sleep disturbance (t150=-2.603, p=0.010) compared to the usual care control group. Pain was improved in both intervention and control groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that MQ with usual health care can improve overall QOL, fatigue, positive mood status and reduce the side effects of nausea, sleep disturbance and inflammation of cancer patients. This study supports the use of MQ as an intervention for cancer care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-458
Author(s):  
Birgitta Ojala ◽  
Clas-Håkan Nygård ◽  
Heini Huhtala ◽  
Seppo T. Nikkari

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vocationally outpatient oriented rehabilitation on an intervention group, compared with a control group that did not take part in the intervention. The groups were compared for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by the quantitative indicator RAND 36. Data were obtained by a self-report at baseline and at nine months follow-up. Differences between base-line and follow-up were analyzed within group and between the groups. The study population consisted of 751 municipal employees aged between 26 and 64 years; an intervention with 463 women and 115 men ( n = 578), and a control group with 138 women and 35 men ( n = 173). In this study we focused on those who had answered to all questions in RAND 36, thus 581 remained. Of these, 388 were in the intervention group (mean age 49.0 years) and 110 in the control group (mean age 48.4 years). Intervention was based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants in the 9-month outpatient intervention group showed statistically significant increase in all eight RAND 36 areas. Most improvement was seen in the psychosocial functioning index ( p = 0.002). Although there were no statistically significant changes in RAND 36 components in the control group, difference in changes between groups were seen in energy and fatigue ( p < 0.001), social functioning ( p = 0.032) and general health perceptions 0.027 in favor of the intervention group. The results suggest that a cognitive behavioral intervention as an early rehabilitation program is effective in increasing employees’ quality of life, as measured by RAND 36.


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