scholarly journals Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL): a new generic self-reported outcome measure for use with people experiencing mental health difficulties

2018 ◽  
Vol 212 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anju Devianee Keetharuth ◽  
John Brazier ◽  
Janice Connell ◽  
Jakob Bue Bjorner ◽  
Jill Carlton ◽  
...  

BackgroundOutcome measures for mental health services need to adopt a service-user recovery focus.AimsTo develop and validate a 10- and 20-item self-report recovery-focused quality of life outcome measure named Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL).MethodQualitative methods for item development and initial testing, and quantitative methods for item reduction and scale construction were used. Data from >6500 service users were factor analysed and item response theory models employed to inform item selection. The measures were tested for reliability, validity and responsiveness.ResultsReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20 contain positively and negatively worded items covering seven themes: activity, hope, belonging and relationships, self-perception, well-being, autonomy, and physical health. Both versions achieved acceptable internal consistency, test–retest reliability (>0.85), known-group differences, convergence with related measures, and were responsive over time (standardised response mean (SRM) > 0.4). They performed marginally better than the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and markedly better than the EQ-5D.ConclusionsBoth versions are appropriate for measuring service-user recovery-focused quality of life outcomes.Declaration of interestM.B. and J.Co. were members of the research group that developed the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) outcome measures.

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Montel ◽  
C. Bungener

Introduction and objective The aim of this study was to compare coping strategies and quality of life (QoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS), as they relate to the course of the disease (relapsing-remitting (RR), secondary progressive (SP), primary progressive (PP)), while taking depression and anxiety into account. Methods A total of 135 MS subjects were seen for a semi-structured interview in order to collect socio-demographic and clinical information, after which there was an assessment of their mental and cognitive states (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Depressive Mood Scale (EHD), Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)). All subjects then completed three self-report questionnaires; two about coping strategies (Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC), Coping with Health, Injuries and Problems Scale (CHIP)) and one about QoL (SEP59). Results The mental health (depression and anxiety) and the psychological and social dimensions of QoL were relatively unaffected. However, after controlling for age and disability, the disease course had a strong effect on both mental health and QoL, with the poorest condition for SPMS and the best condition for PPMS. The SPMS patients tend to use emotional coping strategies extensively, while the PPMS patients use more instrumental strategies. Discussion Our study clearly demonstrated that psychological and social well-being were substantially affected by the disease course. These results encourage us to develop interventions focused on coping strategies and which are better adapted to individual patients. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 393- 401. http://msj.sagepub.com


Author(s):  
Rajeswari Sambasivam ◽  
Anitha Jeyagurunathan ◽  
Edimansyah Abdin ◽  
Saleha Shafie ◽  
Sherilyn Chang ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The physical and mental wellbeing of an individual is impacted by the type occupation one does. This study aims to establish the prevalence of mental and physical disorders, the association of occupational groups and health-related quality of life, and the extent of work-loss and work-cut back in past 30 days among the employed in the Singapore resident population. Methods Data from a population-based, epidemiological survey of a representative sample of Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 18 years and above were used. Lifetime diagnosis of select mental disorders was established using the World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (WHO-CIDI 3.0). Data on nicotine dependence, work productivity, quality of life and socio-demographics were obtained via self-report. Ten major occupational groups based on the Singapore Standard Occupational Classification were included in the analysis. Results The sample comprised 4021 employed individuals who were predominantly males (54.7%) and aged 35–49 years (35.4%). ‘Service and sales workers’ (22.6%), ‘Professionals’ (17.3%) and ‘Legislators, senior officials and managers’ (16.4%) were the three largest occupational groups. Socio-demographic characteristics differed significantly (p < 0.001) across all occupational groups. Lifetime prevalence of mood disorders among the employed was 8.4% and the most prevalent physical disorder was chronic pain (18.9%). No significant differences were observed in work productivity loss across the occupational groups. Conclusions The disparities in the socio-demographic characteristics and prevalence of mental and physical disorders across occupational categories provide policymakers with vital information to pilot effective interventions that can improve the psychosocial and physical conditions at work.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
C-H Chang ◽  
D Cella ◽  
O Fernández ◽  
G Luque ◽  
P de Castro ◽  
...  

Objective: The cross-sectional study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) Spanish version and its use in measuring quality of life (QOL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Spain. Methods: The FAMS is a factorially derived self-report scale designed to assess six primary aspects of QOL of patients with MS: Mobility, Symptoms, Emotional Well-Being, General Contentment, Thinking and Fatigue, and Family/Social Well-Being. Its Spanish translated version was used to assess QOL of 625 MS patients recruited in an outpatient clinic setting from 58 hospitals in Spain. Internal consistency of the Spanish FAMS was evaluated. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors from demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics, and Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores in predicting FAMS scale scores. Results: Most of the patients are females (66%), and 74% were of the relapsing-remitting (RR) clinical subtype. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were high (range=0.78-0.96), indicating subscale homogeneity comparable to that of the original English version. Linear multivariate regression analyses revealed that the EDSS is a dominant variable in predicting all the FAMS subscales, especially mobility (R2=0.51) and the total scores. Conclusions: The Spanish FAMS is a psychometrically valid instrument that allows clinicians and clinical researchers the ability to measure the QOL concerns of MS patients in Spain.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Merkes

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a structured group program that uses mindfulness meditation to improve well-being and alleviate suffering. This article reviews the impact of MBSR for people with chronic diseases. The review includes original research that was published in English and peer-reviewed and reported outcomes for adults with chronic diseases who had participated in an MBSR program. Fifteen studies were identified. Outcomes related to mental and physical health, well-being, and quality of life. The studies included different research designs, and used self-report and physiological outcome measures. Participants’ clinical diagnoses included fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and cardiovascular diagnoses. All 15 studies found that participation in an MBSR program resulted in improvements. No negative change was reported between baseline and follow up. Outcomes in regard to specific variables were difficult to compare and equivocal. Overall, positive change predominated. Chronic diseases are associated with a range of unwelcome psychological and physical consequences. Participation in an MBSR program is likely to result in coping better with symptoms, improved overall well-being and quality of life, and enhanced health outcomes. As an adjunct to standard care, MBSR has potential for much wider application in Australian primary care settings.


Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110100
Author(s):  
Jodie Smith ◽  
Rhylee Sulek ◽  
Ifrah Abdullahi ◽  
Cherie C Green ◽  
Catherine A Bent ◽  
...  

Parents from individualist cultures (those focused on autonomy of individuals; that is, Australian) may view their autistic children differently compared to parents from collectivist cultures (where community needs are valued over an individual’s, that is, South-East Asian cultures). As most research on autism and parenting has been undertaken in Western individualist cultures, knowledge of parenting beliefs and mental health within collectivist cultures is lacking. We compared the mental health, quality of life, well-being and parenting sense of competency between families raising an autistic child from two groups: 97 Australian parents and 58 parents from South-East Asian backgrounds. Children from both groups were receiving the same community-based early intervention. No group differences were found on the measures of mental health but, when compared to Australian parents, parents from South-East Asian backgrounds reported higher well-being and less impact on their quality of life resulting from their child’s autism-specific difficulties. Furthermore, a positive association between well-being and quality of life was only observed for South-East Asian parents. Hence, the views of, and responses to, disability for South-East Asian parents may act as a protective factor promoting well-being. This novel research indicates that culture plays a role in parenting autistic children and highlights the need to accurately capture cultural background information in research. Lay abstract We know that parents of autistic children experience poorer mental health and lower well-being than parents of non-autistic children. We also know that poorer mental health among parents of autistic children has been observed across different cultures. Most research focuses on Western cultures, so we know little about parental mental health and well-being of parents from different cultural backgrounds; yet, it is likely that cultural background contributes to how parents view their child’s condition and respond to the diagnosis. Here, we compared mental health, quality of life and well-being between families raising an autistic child from Australian backgrounds to families from South-East Asian backgrounds. All children in the current study were receiving the same community-based early intervention. When compared to the general population, parents had poorer mental health overall, but there were no differences between the two groups of parents. However, parents from South-East Asian backgrounds reported higher well-being and fewer difficulties associated with their child’s autism. These findings suggest that cultural background likely influences not only parent’s view of, and response to, their child’s autism, but also their own sense of well-being. As researchers and clinicians working with families of autistic children, we should more explicitly consider family’s cultural background within our work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e23557-e23557
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Day ◽  
Benjamin Miller ◽  
Sarah L. Mott ◽  
Bradley T. Loeffler ◽  
Munir Tanas ◽  
...  

e23557 Background: Sarcomas are a diverse group of neoplasms that vary greatly in clinical presentation and responsiveness to treatment. Given the differences in the sites of involvement, rarity, and treatment modality, a multidisciplinary approach is required. Previous literature suggests patients with sarcoma suffer from poorer quality of life (QoL) especially physical and functional well-being. This study aims to understand if there is an association between treatment at a tertiary sarcoma center and a difference in QoL. Methods: De-identified data was obtained from the Sarcoma Tissue Repository at University of Iowa. Mixed effects regression models were utilized to evaluate the association between disease and treatment characteristics and QoL. QoL was assessed using the self-report FACT-G questionnaire at 12-, 24-, and 36-months post-diagnosis; overall scores and the 4 well-being subscales (Physical, Emotional, Social, Functional) were calculated. Results: 443 patients were identified. Soft tissue sarcomas were more prevalent (87.6%) than bone (12.4%). 53% of patients received chemotherapy and 38.6% got radiation therapy. Sarcomas were most frequently located in the lower extremities(ext.) (33.1%), followed by abdomen (20.9%), pelvic (13.6%), upper ext. (13.1%), thorax (11.3%), head & neck (7.8%). For ext. sarcoma; lower ext: 144 (71.3%), Upper ext: 58 (28.7%). Patients with extremity sarcoma; 133 had limb sparing and 48 had amputations. FACT-G Scores did not appreciably vary between 12, 24-, and 36-month for any QoL responses. Overall well-being had a mean score reported of 87.7 (sd = 15.7). Social well-being sores averaged 23.5 (5.0). Emotional well-being (EWB) 19.2 (4.1) and functional well-being (FWB) 21.3 (6.1), and physical well-being (PWB) 23.7 (4.6). There was no association between overall, PWB, EWB, or FWB with the histological subtype, radiation treatment, type of limb surgery, or any location in the same patients over time. Chemotherapy treatments were associated with lower well-being in multiple domains; PWB scores being 2.01 points lower, (p < 0.01), EWB scores being 1.27 points lower (p = 0.01) and FWB scores being 1.72 (p = 0.03), and 4.44 points lower overall (p = 0.03), on average, after adjusting for overall changes across time. Patients with ext. sarcoma only overall FACT-G scores differed 6.72 points higher for upper ext. than lower ext (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Overall QoL areas were similar to normative FACT-G scores both overall and specific areas. Having received chemotherapy was associated with lower well-being scores physically, emotionally, functionally, and overall. There were no clinically relevant differences reported in QoL scores between 12-,24-, and 36-months in the same patients. Further work is needed to describe QoL differences among patients with sarcoma at tertiary centers and examine what protective factors may influence patient well-being.


2010 ◽  
Vol 124 (6) ◽  
pp. 623-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Patel ◽  
S Maskell ◽  
R Heywood ◽  
N Eze ◽  
J Hern

AbstractBackground:Many outcome measures exist for rhinosinusitis. However, few are used in the clinical setting due to their long completion times.Objective:To assess the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the rhinogram, compared with two validated rhinosinusitis outcome measures: the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 and the Heath-Related Quality of Life questionnaire.Methods:Fifty-one patients were entered into a prospective, comparative, cohort study using all three outcome measures one week pre-operatively and three months post-operatively. Outcome scores were then correlated using non-parametric Spearman's rank correlation and chi-square testing for the diagnostic criteria of all three outcome measures.Results:Statistically significant correlations were found between all three outcome measures for all symptom scores, individually as well as combined (p < 0.01 for all calculations). Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of the rhinogram, compared with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 and the Heath-Related Quality of Life questionnaire, showed statistical significance (p < 0.05; chi-square test).Conclusion:The rhinogram is a reliable, valid and responsive rhinosinusitis outcome measure which can assist patient diagnosis and management in the clinical setting. Due to its quick completion time, this outcome measure could be used in rhinology out-patient clinics.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206
Author(s):  
Mosammat Shamsun Naher Begum ◽  
Wongchan Petpichetchian ◽  
Luppana Kitrungrote

Background: The present study was aimed to the relationships between symptom severity and distress and quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.Objectives and methodology: A total number of 132 patients, attending both In-patient and Out-patient department and fulfilling the recruitment criteria were included in the study. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from the eligible participants by the primary investigator. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: On average, the participants of the study experienced seventeen symptoms with moderate level. The level of QoL of the participants was at moderate level (M=2.02, SD=0.39). Among all the subscales, the physical well-being had the lowest score and social well-being had highest score. Symptom experience and quality of life showed significant negative correlation. Conclusion: The patients with breast cancer would experience high symptoms during a 7-day period after receiving chemotherapy of the previous cycle. Nurses need to perform full measurement of multiple symptoms when care for breast cancer patients after the administration of chemotherapy.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.201-206


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 110-121
Author(s):  
Hadjicharalambous Demetris ◽  
Loucia Demetriou ◽  
Koulla Erotocritou

The onset of the infectious disease Covid19 originating in Wuhan, China, took over the world in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic in January 2020.  Empirical evidence resulting from relevant research illustrated that the effects of the pandemic itself but also of the strict measures to contain the spread of the virus on the mental health and well-being of affected populations were just as unanticipated as the pandemic itself. Data led to the identification of six idioms of distress: (1) Demoralization and pessimism towards the future, (2) anguish and stress, (3) self-depreciation, (4) social withdrawal and isolation, (5) somatization, (6) withdrawal into oneself. Our research explores the psychological impact of the Covid19 pandemic on college students and their quality of life. The study took place in Cyprus with 356 young participants, whereas 256 were female (72%) and 100 were male (28%). They all completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 and the Life Satisfaction Inventory (LSI). The present study's findings revealed that six factors, including residence without family, the deterioration of the financial situation of the family, the loss of employment, the deterioration of social relationships, young age, and gender, have significantly affected in a negative way the mental health and quality of life of young people. Research findings revealed that the strict lockdown and physical/social isolation measures had a significant adverse effect on our sample, whereas participants showed increased symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and somatization. Young adults who lost their jobs during the pandemic or had a significant decrease in their family income, and students who stayed away from their families, experienced a negative impact on their quality of life and had to cope with more mental health problems.


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