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Accessible Summary: In the past 30 years, many people with (intellectual) learning disabilities have been moved out of large "institutions" and into their own home in their local communityThese people are now often between 30 and 50 years oldWe asked people with learning disabilities aged between 30 and 50 and who are living in their local community what things, including work, that they enjoyed doingWe asked people with learning disabilities aged between 30 and 50 and who are living in their local community whether they felt that they could make decisions about their lifeWe found out the things that make their life good, and also what might stop people enjoying their lifeWe learnt that people with learning disabilities should receive more support to assist them before they retireWe learnt that people with learning disabilities still need more support and choice around who they live with Background: This study investigated perceived quality of life (QoL) of community‐dwelling middle‐aged adults (30–50 years) with an intellectual disability and/or developmental disability living in rural or urban areas in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. The specific aim of the current paper was to provide a descriptive evidence base of QoL and its specific domains by various key demographic characteristics of middle‐aged individuals. This cohort is likely to have either experienced or reached adulthood during and after large‐scale deinstitutionalisation in Australia. Methods and procedures: A cross‐sectional design was utilised, based on the QoL‐Q survey, testing domains of satisfaction; Competence/Productivity; Empowerment/Independence; and social belonging/community integration. The survey included demographic questions and was distributed to participants through disability support agencies across two states. The final sample included 291 respondents. Results: The overall QoL‐Q scores ranged from 3.0 to 29.5 (Mean = 20.4, SD, 4.1), with considerable variation in mean scores both across and within domains. The two demographic areas that showed greatest predictive value for QoL were work status and accommodation issues. The loss of agency and control in choice of co‐residents influenced perceived QoL for empowerment and independence domain of QoL‐Q. Conclusions: The findings highlight QoL issues associated with policy decisions and support programmes for middle‐aged adults. The two key recommendations arising from the project are that future planning for post‐retirement or reduced working hours needs to commence at a much younger age than currently expected, and more attention needs to focus on facilitating individual decision‐making and choice within shared accommodation options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: This study focuses on the fathers of children with chronic illnesses in an effort to clarify how the stressor and the father's sense of coherence (SOC) influence their mental health and how the father's SOC is associated with the social support. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: We conducted a self‐reported questionnaire survey of 137 respondents (51 fathers of children with chronic illnesses, 86 fathers of healthy children) were statistically using ANOVA. Results: The fathers' stressor was significantly related to their SOC. Furthermore, the SOC of the fathers majorly influenced their mental health, while having a buffering effect on the stressor with respect to depression. And their SOC was significantly positively associated with the social support. Our findings underscore that father's SOC has a buffering effect on self‐mental health and is important for maintaining mental health and enhancing SOC to reduce the stressors of these fathers with respect to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This paper intends to compare quality of life (QoL) and mental health among pregnant women with and without previous pregnancy loss. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 409 women between the 16th and 30th weeks of gestation in health centers in Ahvaz, Iran, including 145 women with prior pregnancy loss (group 1) and 264 women without such history (group 2). Data were collected using the QoL Short Form-36 questionnaire, the Mental Health Questionnaire 25 and a questionnaire for assessing sociodemographic variables. Data were analyzed using spss version 22. Results were analyzed using the χ2-test, the Student's t-test and logistic regression. P < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in respect to QoL and mental health. Women with previous pregnancy loss had lower scores in total and in all subscales of the QoL Short Form-36 ( P < 0.001) and higher scores in total and in six out of the nine subscales of the Mental Health Questionnaire 25 compared to women without these histories. Conclusion Women with history of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth seem to have poorer QoL and mental health during their subsequent pregnancy than those without such experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: There are sex differences in the excess risk of diabetes‐associated cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear whether these sex differences exist with regard to other complications like mental health aspects. Therefore, we investigated sex differences in the association of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with cognitive function, depression, and quality of life (QoL). Materials and Methods: In a population‐based cross‐sectional cohort study (n = 7639; age 40–75 years, 50% women, 25% T2D), we estimated sex‐specific associations, and differences therein, of prediabetes and T2D (reference: normal glucose metabolism) with measures of cognitive function, depression, and physical and mental QoL. Sex differences were analysed using multiple regression models with interaction terms. Results: In general, T2D, but not prediabetes, was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment, major depressive disorder, and poorer QoL. The odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment associated with T2D was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.96–1.72) for women and 1.39 (1.10–1.75) for men. The OR of major depressive disorder associated with T2D was 1.19 (0.69–2.04) for women and 1.68 (1.02–2.75) for men. The mean difference of the physical QoL score (ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the best possible QoL) associated with T2D was −2.09 (−2.92 to −1.25) for women and −1.81 (−2.48 to −1.13) for men. The mean difference of the mental QoL score associated with T2D was −0.90 (−1.79 to −0.02) for women and −0.52 (−1.23 to 0.20) for men. There was no clear pattern of sex differences in the associations of either prediabetes or T2D with measures of cognitive function, depression, or QoL. Conclusions: In general, T2D was associated with worse cognitive function, depression, and poorer QoL. The strength of these associations was similar among women and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Palliative care for dementia includes psychosocial interventions as first-line treatment for challenging behaviour. However, the national dementia plan in Japan contradicts recommendations for palliative care for dementia. This study aimed to examine the association between care quality for patients with dementia and professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia in Japanese community care settings.Methods: In total, 2116 professional caregivers from 329 agencies (217 in-home long-term care support providers; 29 small-scale, multiple home-care providers; and 83 group homes) in Tokyo prefecture, Japan, completed cross-sectional, paper-based questionnaires about 3603 people diagnosed with dementia, in May 2016. Quality of care measures included physical restraint and antipsychotic medication use and quality of life. Patients' quality of life was assessed via the Japanese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Health-related Quality of Life scale. The Japanese version of the Questionnaire on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia was used to assess professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia.Results: Professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia were positively associated with quality of life in patients with dementia. Physical restraint and antipsychotic medication were used regardless of professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes.Conclusions: Professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia could have exerted a positive effect on quality of life in patients with dementia. A national strategy for advocacy and the protection of adults is required to integrate several laws and guidelines and prevent the use of antipsychotics as a form of chemical restraint. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) is a brief instrument that assesses a range of substance use, health and well-being measures over the past 28 days. Previously, it has been validated in general adult Australian alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment populations. However, the increasing number of older-aged clients attending AOD treatment warrants the instrument to be validated for this population. The aim of this study was to validate the ATOP for use in older AOD populations, by comparing it with validated 'gold standard' measures used in older populations.Design and Methods: A convenience sample of 99 participants aged ≥50 attending specialist AOD services in Sydney, Australia were administered the ATOP by a researcher, along with alcohol use (AUDIT) and health questionnaires [Physical Health Questionnaire-15, 12-item short-form Health Survey (SF-12) and Geriatric Depression Scale].Results: The ATOP items had strong agreement with the comparison instruments. The highest correlation was between the 28 days alcohol use and the AUDIT. ATOP psychological health scores highly correlated with the SF-12 mental health subscale and the Geriatric Depression Scale, and ATOP physical health scores significantly correlated with the SF-12 physical health subscale and the Physical Health Questionnaire-15. The ATOP Quality of Life score significantly correlated with all health measures. Discussion and Conclusions The ATOP has good concurrent validity with other validated substance use and health measures in an older population. Comparison with general older populations demonstrated the poorer health of this group of older AOD clients in particular.[Lintzeris N, Monds L A, Rivas G, Leung S, Withall A, Draper B. The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile instrument as a clinical tool for older alcohol and other drug clients: A validation study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:673-677]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of urinary symptoms and incontinence on quality of life in postmenopausal women. The sample of the cross‐sectional study consisted of 327 women aged 50–65 who visited primary healthcare centers between 16 April and 30 July 2018. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Urinary Symptom Profile Questionnaire (USP) and the Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I‐QOL). The mean age of the women participating in the study was 57.89 ± 5.05. It was found that 50.5% of the women had a history of incontinence. While the total mean USP score of all women participating in the study was 4.94 ± 4.81, it was 7.98 ± 4.85 for the women with a history of incontinence. The mean total I‐QOL score was 87.09 ± 16.04 in all women and 76.95 ± 16.93 in the women with a history of incontinence. The women with a history of incontinence were found to have a strong negative correlation between their total USP and total I‐QOL scores. In this study, it was found that the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence, especially their psychosocial health, was found to be significantly affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to investigate the status and influence factors of caregiver's quality of life (QOL) on caring for patients with chronic wound during COVID‐19 epidemic. A prospective cross‐sectional study of 83 informal caregivers was included. The characteristics of informal caregivers as well as their QOL assessment by the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI) were measured, respectively. Single‐factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out to explore the independent influence factors of QOL of caregiver on caring for patient with chronic wound. 62.65% of the caregivers were female with a mean age of (54.24 ± 12.6) years, and 34.9% of the caregivers were parents. The mean FDLQI score was 13.01 ± 7.53 at a high level. The following variables influenced the FDLQI scores of caregivers: self‐care ability of patients, patient's satisfaction of home‐based wound care, and home‐based wound care need of caregivers. The model was able to explain 29.9% of variance in QOL of caregiver (F = 6.561, P =.000, R2 = 0.299, adjusted R2 = 0.253). In conclusion, the impact of chronic wound disease on the QOL of caregivers is heavy during COVID‐19 epidemic. Wound professionals are suggested to pay attention to wound care need at home and QOL of caregiver on caring for patients with chronic wound during COVID‐19 epidemic and develop tailored wound health education and support programme in order to improve the QOL of caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There have been inconsistent findings from studies examining factors associated with quality of life (QoL) for children affected by parental illness. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with self‐reported QoL in children affected by parental illness or parental substance abuse. Design: A cross‐sectional multicentre study. Methods: The sample included 246 families with children 8–18 years recruited via ill parents who received treatment for severe physical illness, mental illness or substance abuse in specialised health services. We performed multiple linear regression analyses to examine factors associated with the children's self‐reported QoL. Main outcome measure: KIDSCREEN‐27. Results: The children's self‐reported QoL was positively associated with the ill parent's self‐reported physical health, the children's self‐reported social skills, the degree to which other adults took over the ill parent's responsibilities, provision of sibling care, provision of health care for the ill parent and positive outcome of caregiving. The children's QoL was negatively associated with the children's self‐reported responsibilities due to parental illness, provision of emotional care for the ill parent, negative outcomes of caregiving and external locus of control. The model explained 63% of the variance (adjusted R2) in children's total QoL. Study limitations: Sampling bias may have occurred during recruitment. Conclusions: The findings suggest factors of importance for the children's QoL. Clinicians should assess whether an ill parent's physical health may influence negatively on their ability to perform daily responsibilities at home and care for their children, and clinicians can use children's self‐reported QoL to identify children who are most negatively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Experienced Involvement' (EX‐IN) training programme prepares and certifies individuals who have experienced mental health problems to work as peer support workers and to support others challenged by similar conditions. We aimed to assess the impact of the EX‐IN training on hope, self‐efficacy, introspection, stigma resistance, personal recovery, health‐related quality of life and employment in participants. Data was collected using standardized assessment instruments before the training started (t1) and upon course completion (t2). Data from 103 participants who participated in both measurement times were included into data analysis. Participants significantly improved their recovery, stigma resistance and introspection during the EX‐IN training. In addition, a significant higher proportion of participants were employed at t2. Participants whose last inpatient stay was 0–1 year before the start of the EX‐IN training showed significantly lower levels of stigma resistance, and self‐efficacy at t1 than participants with two or more years since the last inpatient stay. There were no significant changes in mean values over time, or in the mean values at t2 between the two groups. EX‐IN training has a positive influence on the handling of stigma, on one's recovery path and introspection. This indicates that EX‐IN training has a therapeutic effect on the participants. EX‐IN training seems to meet the challenges of peer support work. Therefore, the training can be recommended as preparation for working as a peer support worker as well as an intervention to improve one´s recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to identify the predictors of perceived stress and quality of life (QoL) among graduate dental faculty.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a representative sample of 348 dental faculty members from master's and doctoral programs in Brazil. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between August and December 2018. QoL was assessed using the multidimensional World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Participant sociodemographic characteristics served as the independent variables. The data were subjected to linear regression analysis.Results: Women obtained higher PSS scores and lower QoL scores (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between perceived stress and all 4 QoL domains. Multivariate analysis revealed that a combination of the independent variables (i.e., sex, age, sleep duration, dual employment, medication intake due to work, and leisure time) explained 32% of the variance in perceived stress. Regarding QoL, perceived stress, sleep duration, and medication intake due to work explained 50%, 58%, 27%, and 40% of the variance in the physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment domain scores, respectively. Sex (i.e., female) and medication intake due to work predicted higher levels of perceived stress. In contrast, age, sleep duration, dual employment, and leisure time were associated with lower levels of perceived stress.Conclusion: Perceived stress and medication intake due to work had a negative effect on QoL, whereas sleep duration had a positive impact on QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, identify risk factors, and assess the impact of nonphysical workplace violence (WPV) events among education workers (teachers, professionals, and support personnel). METHODS: A cross‐sectional survey was mailed to a random sample of 6450 education workers, stratified by sex, occupation, and school location in Pennsylvania. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 2514 participants, 859 (34%) reported experiencing at least one nonphysical WPV event during the 2009‐2010 school year. Coworkers were the most common source of bullying. Most education workers responded that they did not receive an adequate response from their administration after reporting a nonphysical WPV event. Risks of nonphysical assaults increased for education workers who were female, those working in an urban school, and those in their first 3 years of working in their current school. Those assaulted were significantly likely to have low job satisfaction, find work more stressful, and have poor mental health compared to those were not assaulted. CONCLUSIONS: Administration support for specific prevention efforts and post‐event responses that address the risk factors for nonphysical WPV are essential for creating a positive, safe work environment in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health is impacted by social, economic, and environmental influences related to where people live. Mental health problems commonly co‐occur with long‐term physical conditions and impact individuals' health synergistically. Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) including mental health problems are becoming a public health challenge globally. However, there is limited information about urban–rural differences in mental health among patients with MCCs in China. The present study aimed to identify differences in mental health between urban and rural patients with MCCs. Using a cross‐sectional design, 347 patients with MCCs were recruited from a tertiary hospital in North Anhui, China. A self‐reported questionnaire, including socio‐demographic and clinical variables, the 12‐item Short‐Form survey version 2 on quality of life, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, was administered to outpatients. Findings showed that rural participants reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression and had worse mental health compared to urban participants. Unemployment status, lower educational level, more long‐term health conditions, and a higher degree of anxiety were associated with worse mental health. This study highlights disparities in mental health among patients with MCCs living in urban and rural areas of China. Appropriate mental health support programmes should be developed for patients with MCCs, especially for those living in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationships between weight/shape overvaluation, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional role impairment (days out of role [DOR]) in the general population over 11 years. Method: Five cross‐sectional surveys of men and women representative of the South Australian population were conducted in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2015, and 2016 (ntotal = 15,140). Data were collected on demographics, overvaluation, HRQoL, DOR, and eating disorder behaviours. Results: Between 2005 and 2016, the prevalence of moderate overvaluation increased from 18.1% to 40.0%, marked overvaluation from 7.5% to 23.7%, and extreme overvaluation from 3.1% to 9.2% (all p < 0.001). Overvaluation at any level was associated with more DOR in 2005 but not in 2016, and the association between HRQoL impairment and overvaluation weakened over time. Conclusion: Although the population prevalence of overvaluation has increased significantly in the past decade, the impairment associated with it appears to have reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To dentify the predictors of the quality of life (QOL) of infertile men who are undergoing infertility treatments in Japan and to create a QOL prediction model, with the main variables aimed at providing more adequate support to male patients. Methods: This cross‐sectional study used the quantitative data that were collected from 321 returned self‐report questionnaires that had been distributed to the men of 411 couples who were undergoing fertility treatment. The following four scales were used to measure the main outcomes: FertiQoL, psychological distress, spousal support, and workplace support. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, multiple regression analyses, and structural equation modeling. Results: The number of returned questionnaires was 321 (78.1%). The QOL that was measured by FertiQoL was significantly lower in those men who were diagnosed with male factor infertility than in the other male patients. The two significant predictors of QOL were: spousal support and the infertility period. The structural equation modeling revealed that the same factors were related to QOL. Conclusions: Male factor infertility, less spousal support, and a longer period of infertility were associated with a poorer QOL of those men who were undergoing infertility treatment. These results suggest that focusing on infertility causes, the length of the infertility period, and the couples' partnership during treatment is needed to provide full support to men who have been diagnosed with infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Specific Quality of Life instrument and its revised version (ALSSQOL and ALSSQOL-R) have strong psychometric properties, and have demonstrated research and clinical utility. In this study we aimed to develop a short form (ALSSQOL-SF) suitable for limited clinic time and patient stamina.Methods: The ALSSQOL-SF was created using Item Response Theory and confirmatory factor analysis on 389 patients. A cross-validation sample of 162 patients assessed convergent, divergent, and construct validity of the ALSSQOL-SF compared with psychosocial and physical functioning measures.Results: The ALSSQOL-SF consisted of 20 items. Compared with the ALSSQOL-R, optimal precision was retained, and completion time was reduced from 15-25 minutes to 2-4 minutes. Psychometric properties for the ALSSQOL-SF and its subscales were strong.Discussion: The ALSSQOL-SF is a disease-specific global QOL instrument that has a short administration time suitable for clinical use, and can provide clinically useful, valid information about persons with ALS. Muscle Nerve 58: 646-654, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our objective in this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the English (UK and USA) version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Neuromuscular Module (PedsQL NMM) administered to patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Methods: Patients with DMD from the UK and the US completed the PedsQL NMM online. The psychometric properties of the instrument were examined using Rasch analysis.Results: A total of 278 patients completed the PedsQL NMM. Model misfit was identified for 6 of 25 items (item fit residual: mean 0.162, standard deviation [SD] 2.333), 22 of 25 items displayed disordered thresholds, and item dependency was high. The mean person fit residual was estimated at -0.183 (SD 1.475). The Person Separation Index and Cronbach's α were estimated at 0.904 and 0.915, respectively.Discussion: The English version of the PedsQL NMM may not be a valid measure of health-related quality of life in patients with DMD. Muscle Nerve 58: 367-373, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Infertility has a stressful impact on both partners, with adverse effects on the quality of life of infertile couples. Spirituality is a meaning‐based strategy that can protect couples against infertility's negative impact on quality of life, but analysis of this mediator relationship in infertile couples has not been reported. We adopted a dyadic approach and used the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model to examine whether and how women's and men's spirituality was associated with their own and their partners’ infertility‐related stress and quality of life. In 2014, 152 infertile couples starting their first fertility treatment at a private clinic in Brazil were recruited and completed self‐reports of spirituality, infertility‐related stress, and quality of life. Results indicated that women's and men's level of spirituality was positively associated with their own quality of life directly and indirectly, by reducing their own infertility‐related stress. Their spirituality was associated with an increase in their partners’ quality of life only indirectly, by reducing their partners’ infertility‐related stress. Findings highlight the importance of assessing and promoting spirituality as a coping resource that infertile women and men might use to deal with the stress of infertility and reduce its adverse effects on quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The individual process of resilience has been related to positive outcomes in mental disorders. We aimed (a) to identify the resilience domains from the Resilience Questionnaire for Bipolar Disorder that are associated cross sectionally and longitudinally with mental health outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD) and (b) to explore cross‐lagged associations among resilience factors. A clinical adult sample of 125 patients diagnosed with BD (62.10% female, mean age = 46.13, SD = 10.89) gave their informed consent and completed a battery of disease‐specific tools on resilience, personal recovery, symptomatology, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life, at baseline and at follow‐up (n = 63, 58.10% female, mean age = 45.13, SD = 11.06, participation rate = 50.40%). Resilience domains of self‐management of BD, turning point, self‐care, and self‐confidence were significantly associated with mental health indicators at baseline. In addition, self‐confidence at baseline directly predicted an increase in personal recovery at follow‐up, and self‐confidence improvement mediated the relationship between interpersonal support and self‐care at baseline and personal recovery at follow‐up. These findings highlight that resilience domains are significantly associated with positive mental health outcomes in BD and that some predict personal recovery at follow‐up. Moreover, some resilience factors improve other resilience factors over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to understand how hope and motivation of patients considering phase I trial participation are affected by psychological factors such as coping strategies and locus of control (LoC) and general well-being as measured by the quality of life (QoL).Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was performed in patients with incurable cancer (N = 135) referred to our phase I unit for the first time. Patients were potentially eligible for phase I trial participation and participated in our study while deliberating phase I trial participation. We used questionnaires on hope, motivation to participate, coping, LoC, and QoL. To investigate the nature and magnitude of the relationships between the scales, a structural equation modeling (SEM) was fitted to the data.Results: Hope significantly predicted the motivation to participate in phase I trials. Predictors of hope were a combination of flexible and tenacious goal pursuit (both P < .01), internal LoC (P < .01), and QoL (P < .01). The SEM showed an exact fit to the data, using a null hypothesis significance test: chi-square (8) = 9.30, P = .32.Conclusions: Patients considering phase I trial participation seem to use a pact of tenacious and flexible coping and control to stay hopeful. Furthermore, hope and QoL positively affected each other. The psychological pact may promote an adaptation enabling them to adjust to difficult circumstances by unconsciously ignoring information, called dissonance reduction. This mechanism may impair their ability to provide a valid informed consent. We suggest including a systematic exploration of patients' social context and values before proposing a phase I trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Distressing and pleasant/positive voices (auditory verbal hallucinations) are common in both clinical and non-clinical voice-hearers. Identifying factors that contribute to emotional reactions to voices is essential for developing effective psychological interventions. Several theories propose that facilitation and interference with personal goals are important predictors of distress and well-being. This study examined whether voice-related distress is related to the degree to which voices interfere with personal goals, and whether pleasantness of voices is influenced by the extent to which they facilitate goals. Design Cross-sectional with clinical and non-clinical voice-hearers. Method Twenty-two clinical and 18 non-clinical voice-hearers completed interviews and self-report measures assessing (1) personal goals, (2) content, characteristics, and affective reactions to voices, and (3) ratings of the extent to which voices facilitated and/or interfered with achievement of important personal goals. Results Affective reactions were strongly correlated with measures of goal interference and goal facilitation. Regression analyses revealed that these associations remained significant when controlling for important covariates (e.g., participant grouping; content, frequency and duration of voices). Goal interference was specifically associated with distress, whereas goal facilitation specifically predicted perceived pleasantness of voices. Conclusions This study provides a novel perspective on the factors that might contribute to distress in people who hear voices. The findings suggest that perceived impact of voices on valued personal goals may be an important contributor of voice-related distress. We propose that clinical assessments, formulations, and interventions could benefit from the careful analysis of the perceived impact of voices on goals. Practitioner points These findings suggest that variability in voice-related distress is closely linked to the perceived impact of voices on personal goals., These strong effects observed highlight the importance of considering the role of personal goals in future research on the psychological mechanisms leading to distress associated with voice hearing., Psychological assessments may benefit from the careful exploration of the impact of voice hearing on valued goals, and interventions promoting control over personal goals may be explored as treatment options for clients with distressing voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: While research on the separate relationships between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and chronic pain, and HRQOL and opioid abuse has been sparse, even less work has investigated the factors associated with HRQOL in individuals who have both chronic pain and meet criteria for opioid use disorder. The data presented in this analysis should allow a better understanding the factors important to quality of life among this dual-diagnosed population.Methods: Individuals with dual diagnoses of chronic pain and opioid use disorder were recruited for clinical research studies at Columbia University Medical Center. Participants (n = 47) completed inventories to assess pain (Brief Pain Inventory), opioid (ab)use, and depression (Beck Depression Inventory). Variable from these and other inventories, along with demographic factors (age, race, sex, pain severity, depressive symptoms, duration of opioid use, route of opioid use, amount of opioid use) were entered into a regression analysis in order to identify the strongest predictors of SF-36 Health Survey score.Results: In the bivariate analysis we found that demographic and drug use variables were rarely associated with HRQOL. Typically, ratings of pain severity and pain interference were the best predictors. In the multivariate analysis, we found that across the several HRQOL dimensions greater Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) ratings of pain "interference" and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were consistently associated with lower HRQOL.Conclusions and Scientific Significance: These data suggest that insufficient pain management and depression are significant variables contributing to lower quality of life among individuals with chronic pain and opioid use disorder. (Am J Addict 2017;26:815-821). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether there are differences in fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) and socio-demographic characteristics between immigrants and non-immigrant patients attending a government-funded fertility program.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: McGill University Reproductive Center in Montreal, Canada, at a time when governmental funding for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was provided to all residents.Population: All infertile patients, males and females, attending the center between March and July 2015.Methods: Patients were invited to complete anonymous questionnaires which included socio-demographic items and the validated FertiQoL questionnaire.Main Outcome Measures: Socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital state, infertility type & duration, previous IVF attempts; education, employment, income, ethnicity, spoken languages) and FertiQoL scores.Results: In all, 1020 patients completed the questionnaires; of these, 752 (77.7%) non-immigrant Canadian citizens and 215 (22.3%) resident immigrants were included in the analysis. Median duration in Canada for immigrants was 4 years. Immigrants were more likely to have university/graduate degrees (75% versus 64%), to be unemployed (37% versus 13.1%) and to have lower annual household incomes (72.8% versus 39.5%, all P < 0.05). They also reported poorer QoL and achieved significantly lower scores in the emotional, mind/body, social, treatment and total FertiQoL domains. Multivariate analysis showed male gender, lower education level and Caucasian/European ethnicity to be significantly associated with higher QoL.Conclusions: Despite governmental funding of IVF, immigrants experience reduced fertility QoL, implying cost is not the only barrier to IVF use. The reduced QoL may stem from cross-cultural differences in infertility perception. This population may be at greater risk for depression and anxiety and should be flagged accordingly.Tweetable Abstract: Immigrants' fertility QoL is lower despite publicly funded IVF implying cost is not the only barrier to IVF use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Extensive studies on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are lacking. Our objective was to document HRQoL and to identify factors associated with a reduced HRQoL in patients with IIM.Methods: A total of 1,715 patients (median age 49.9 years, 70% female, 87% white) who met probable or definite Bohan and Peter criteria or Griggs criteria for myositis were included from the Myovision registry. HRQoL was ascertained using the Short Form 12 (SF-12) health survey questionnaire. HRQoL physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores in relation to different patient and disease characteristics were compared to scores from matched normative data from the US general population and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between HRQoL and patient and disease parameters.Results: The mean SF-12 summary scores were significantly lower in IIM patients than in the normative and RA populations. A diagnosis of inclusion body myositis, older age, patient-reported negative effect of disease on work, presence of another co-occurring autoimmune disease, polypharmacy, and IIM-associated lung disease and joint involvement were significantly associated with lower PCS scores. Lower MCS scores were associated with joint involvement and a negative effect of disease on work.Conclusion: In this large study of patient-reported outcomes in IIM, an association was found between multiple disease characteristics and reduced HRQoL, mostly in the physical domain. In the US, the HRQoL of IIM patients was found to be lower than that of the general population and RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Case management (CM) programs are intended to improve care coordination for cancer patients. This quasi-experimental, controlled study evaluated whether such a program was effective in improving health-related quality of life and reducing the psychological distress of breast cancer patients.Methods: For the study, 126 patients with CM and 118 patients with treatment as usual (TAU) were surveyed at baseline, a 6-month follow-up and a 12-month follow-up. Comparisons of the two groups with regard to quality of life (Short Form-8, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-11; primary outcome) and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, distress thermometer; secondary outcome) were conducted.Results: Univariate t-tests regarding the primary and secondary outcomes demonstrated improvements in the relevant outcomes at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups for the intervention group as well as for the control group. An analysis of covariance revealed that the controls showed a higher level of physical quality of life at the 12-month follow-up than the other time points and no differences at 6 months after the baseline.Conclusions: The tested CM model did not improve the quality of life or psychological well-being of the patients beyond treatment as usual. Possible reasons include that the treatment was already of high standards in the control group or that there are possibly different impacts than found in the literature regarding different forms of organization in CM. The need for and the tailoring of this CM model as well as the transfer of CM to other oncological indications remain to be clarified. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the relationship between mothers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and child behaviour problems at age 2 years. To investigate whether the relationship between maternal HRQoL and child behaviour problems is independent of maternal mental health.Methods: Cross-sectional survey nested within a population-level, cluster randomised trial, which aims to prevent early child behaviour problems. One hundred and sixty mothers of 2-year-old children, in nine local government areas in Victoria, Australia. HRQoL was measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life 6D and child behaviour was measured using the child behaviour checklist (CBCL/1.5-5 years). Maternal mental health was measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Data were collected at child age 2 years; demographic data were collected at child age 8 months.Results: HRQoL was lower for mothers with children that had borderline/clinical behaviour problems compared to those with children without problems (mean difference -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.16 to -0.12, P < 0.001). The finding did not markedly change when adjusting for household income, financial security, child gender, child temperament and intervention group status at child age 8 months (mean difference -0.12, 95% CI: -0.15 to -0.09, P < 0.001), but did attenuate when additionally adjusting for concurrent maternal mental health (mean difference -0.03, 95% CI: -0.05 to -0.02, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Child behaviour problems were associated with lower maternal HRQoL. Child behaviour problems prevention programmes could consider this association with maternal HRQoL and be designed to improve and report both mothers' and their child's health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study examines the relationship between diet quality and health-related quality of life ( HRQoL) in rural and urban Australian adolescents, and gender differences. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Secondary schools. Participants 722 rural and 422 urban students from 19 secondary schools. Main outcome measures Self-report dietary-related behaviours, demographic information, HRQoL ( AQoL-6D) were collected. Healthy and unhealthy diet quality scores were calculated; multiple linear regression investigated associations between diet quality and HRQoL. Results Compared to urban students, rural students had higher HRQoL, higher healthy diet score, lower unhealthy diet score, consumed less soft drink and less frequently, less takeaway and a higher proportion consumed breakfast (P < 0.05). Overall, males had higher unhealthy diet score, poorer dietary behaviours but a higher HRQoL score compared to females (P < 0.05). In all students, final regression models indicated: a unit increase in healthy diet score was associated with an increase in HRQoL (unstandardised coefficient(B)±standard error( SE); B = 0.02 ± 0.01( SE); P < 0.02); and a unit increase in unhealthy diet scores was associated with a decrease in HRQoL (−0.01 ± 0.00; P < 0.05). In rural students alone, a unit increase in unhealthy diet score was associated with a decrease in HRQoL (B = −0.01 ± 0.00; P = 0.002), and in urban students a unit increase in healthy diet score was associated with an increase in HRQoL (B = 0.02 ± 0.00; P < 0.001). Conclusions Cross-sectional associations between diet quality and HRQoL were observed. Dietary modification may offer a target to improve HRQoL and general well-being; and consequently the prevention and treatment of adolescent health problems. Such interventions should consider gender and locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Health-related quality of life (HrQoL) is a multidimensional concept including self-reported measures of physical and mental health. Throughout the last decades, HrQoL has become a more and more important outcome measure not only in clinical conditions. This study evaluates current HrQoL of healthy children and adolescents, determinants of HrQoL, and the agreement between self- and proxy-report.Methods: From April 2012 to July 2013, we prospectively examined 530 healthy children (13.2 ± 2.1 years, 236 girls) and their parents on their childrens HrQoL using the KINDL-R self-report questionnaire and the parent's proxy-report. Data was compared to the established reference value from 2007 and the agreement of self- and parent's proxy-report was assessed by calculation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: In general, the HrQoL improved compared to references in both children's (104.5 ± 12.6 % of predicted reference value, P < .001) and parent's proxy-report (104.3 ± 12.3 % of predicted reference value, P < .001). HrQoL declined with proceeding age (r = -.247, P < .001) but was not associated with BMI (r = -.035, P = .420). There was good accordance between children's reported HrQoL and the parent's proxy-report (ICC: .774). Only in the domains 'self-esteem' (ICC: .558) and 'Emotional well-being' (ICC: .612) the agreements were moderate.Conclusions: HrQoL perception has increased throughout the past 10 years and worsens with increasing age. Moreover, the parent's proxy-report of the KINDL-R questionnaire is a good supplementary method to provide additional information regarding to children's HrQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the satisfaction with information received by prostate cancer survivors and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and illness perception.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 999 patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2009. All patients received a questionnaire on HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), illness perception (B-IPQ) and satisfaction with information provision (EORTC QLQ-INFO-25). Multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the association between satisfaction with information provision and HRQoL as well as illness perception.Results: Response rate was 70% (N = 697), 34% (N = 222) indicated to be dissatisfied with the information received. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed a significant positive association between satisfaction with information provision and global health (P = <0.001), emotional functioning (P = 0.004), social functioning (P = 0.027), physical functioning (P = 0.002) and role functioning (P = 0.001). Satisfaction was negatively associated with illness perception subscales on consequences (P = 0.020), timeline (P = 0.031), personal control (P = 0.013), treatment control (P < 0.001), illness concern (P < 0.001), coherence (P = 0.001) and emotional representation (P = 0.004). Hence, more satisfied patients reported fewer consequences of disease, illness concern and emotional representation, but higher personal and treatment control and coherence.Conclusions: A third of all prostate cancer survivors reported to be dissatisfied with the information received and scored worse on HRQoL and illness perception. A prospective randomized study is needed to study the effect of an intervention that improves information provision on HRQoL and illness perception outcomes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Method: HRQOL was assessed using the Health Utilities Index Questionnaire (HUI) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) neuromuscular module version 3.0 online. Results were stratified by disease stage (early/late ambulatory/non-ambulatory) and caregivers' perceptions of patients' health and mental status.Results: A total of 770 patient-caregiver pairs (173 German, 122 Italian, 191 UK, and 284 USA) participated. Most caregivers (>84%) perceived their patients as happy/somewhat happy and in excellent/very good/good health, irrespective of current ambulatory class. In contrast, mean patient utility (reflecting public preferences: 0, dead; 1, perfect health) deteriorated with disease course, from 0.75 in early ambulatory males to 0.15 in the most severely affected patients. Mean patient PedsQL scores (0-100, higher score indicating better HRQOL) decreased from 80 to 57 across ambulatory classes.Interpretation: HRQOL in DMD, measured through public preferences, is substantially impaired in relation to the general population and significantly associated with disease progression. Still, most patients are perceived as happy and in good health by their caregivers, indicating that influential domains of HRQOL remain intact through the disease progression. Our findings emphasize the challenges in measuring HRQOL in a rare, progressive childhood condition such as DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to identify risk factors for lower quality of life (QOL) in non-metastatic breast cancer patients.Methods: Our study included 120 patients from the University Hospital Centers of Tours and Poitiers. This cross-sectional study was conducted 7 months after patients' breast cancer diagnosis and assessed QOL (Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 = QLQ-C30), socio-demographic characteristics, coping strategies (Brief-COPE), physiological and biological variables (e.g., initial tumor severity and types of treatment received), the existence of major depressive disorder (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), and pain severity (Questionnaire de Douleur Saint Antoine). We assessed personality disorders 3 months after diagnosis (Vragenlijst voor Kenmerken van de Persoonlijkheid questionnaire). We used multiple linear regression models to determine which factors were associated with physical, emotional, and global QOL.Results: Lower physical QOL was associated with major depressive disorder, younger age, a more severe initial tumor stage, and the use of the behavioral disengagement coping. Lower emotional QOL was associated with major depressive disorder, the existence of a personality disorder, a more severe pain level, higher use of self-blame, and lower use of acceptance coping strategies. Lower global QOL was associated with major depressive disorder, the existence of a personality disorder, a more severe pain level, higher use of self-blame, lower use of positive reframing coping strategies, and an absence of hormone therapy.Conclusions: Lower QOL scores were more strongly associated with variables related to the individual's premorbid psychological characteristics and the manner in which this individual copes with the cancer (e.g., depression, personality, and coping) than to cancer-related variables (e.g., treatment types and cancer severity). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim is to examine whether provider screening for physical and emotional symptoms, as reported by medical oncology outpatients, varies across medical oncology treatment centres.Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 716 patients attending the outpatient medical oncology department of six public cancer treatment centres across five Australian states participated. Four patient-report survey items explored how often patients were specifically asked by clinical staff at the treatment centre about their (i) emotional distress (anxiety, distress and depression), (ii) pain, (iii) fatigue and (iv) other physical symptoms (e.g. nausea and constipation). Asking at less than half of all appointments was classified as infrequent screening.Results: No significant associations were found between treatment centre and symptom screening for emotional distress (p = 0.65), pain (p = 0.21), fatigue (p = 0.95) and other physical symptoms (p = 0.40). The proportion of patients who were regularly screened versus infrequently screened was significantly higher for physical symptoms than emotional symptoms (p < 0.001): 36% infrequently screened for emotional distress (range: 33-45%), 15% infrequently screened for pain (range: 9-21%), 16% infrequently screened for fatigue (range: 15-19%) and 11% infrequently screened for other physical symptoms (range: 5-17%).Conclusions: No significant variation in symptom screening was found across treatment centres. While the majority of patients received recommended care, treatment centres must continue to improve symptom screening rates, particularly for emotional distress. However, screening is only the first step and must be accompanied by the offer of help and provision of help to relieve patient suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate the association between patterns of alcohol consumption and self-reported physical and mental health in a population with a high prevalence of hazardous drinking. Design Cross-sectional study of an age-stratified random sample of a population register. Setting The city of Izhevsk, The Russian Federation, 2008-09. Participants A total of 1031 men aged 25-60 years (68% response rate). Measurements Self-reported health was evaluated with the SF12 physical ( PCS) and mental ( MCS) component summaries. Measures of hazardous drinking (based on frequency of adverse effects of alcohol intake including hangover, excessive drunkenness and extended episodes of intoxication lasting 2 or more days) were used in addition to frequency of alcohol consumption and total volume of beverage ethanol per year. Information on smoking and socio-demographic factors were obtained. Findings Compared with abstainers, those drinking 10-19 litres of beverage ethanol per year had a PCS score 2.66 [95% confidence interval ( CI) = 0.76; 4.56] higher. Hazardous beverage drinking was associated with a lower PCS score [mean diff: −2.95 (95% CI = −5.28; −0.62)] and even more strongly with a lower MCS score [mean diff: −4.29 (95% CI = −6.87; −1.70)] compared to non-hazardous drinkers, with frequent non-beverage alcohol drinking being associated with a particularly low MCS score [−7.23 (95% CI = −11.16; −3.29)]. Adjustment for smoking and socio-demographic factors attenuated these associations slightly, but the same patterns persisted. Adjustment for employment status attenuated the associations with PCS considerably. Conclusion Among working-aged male adults in Russia, hazardous patterns of alcohol drinking are associated with poorer self-reported physical health, and even more strongly with poorer self-reported mental health. Physical health appears to be lower in those reporting complete abstinence from alcohol compared with those drinking 10-19 litres per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Fulfilling patient expectations is central to defining a good quality of life (QoL) in health. The WHOQOL-BREF was developed using novel, person-centred methods and is a generic patient-reported outcomes measure (PROM). However, without robust psychometric performance, PROMs cannot be relied upon to assess individuals. This study investigated the WHOQOL-BREF (UK), with this use in mind. Design Cross sectional with nested repeated measures. Setting and participants Twenty-seven disease groups or health conditions and healthy people were recruited at 38 UK sites, in a wide range of settings ( n = 4628). Interventions 'Treatment as usual'; new and alternative interventions. Outcome measures WHOQOL-BREF (UK); SF-36. Results Respondent burden was low, as acceptability and feasibility were high. Internal consistency was excellent (0.92) and test-retest reliability good. Distinctive QoL profiles were found for diverse conditions. Musculoskeletal, psychiatric and cardiovascular patients reported the poorest QoL and also improved most during treatment. Overall, QoL was good, and best for healthy groups, supporting discriminant validity. Compared with the SF-36, WHOQOL physical and psychological domains showed good concurrent validity, although social was weak. Small or moderate effect sizes confirmed responsiveness to change in specified domains for certain conditions and interventions. Age had a small impact on reporting QoL. Discussion and conclusion The WHOQOL-BREF is found to be a high quality patient-centred generic tool suited to individual assessment in clinics, for research, and audit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The physical and psychological benefits of exercise for cancer survivors are well documented. Researchers have examined self-efficacy (SE) as a target for promoting exercise; however, the predictors of SE, including treatment factors and comorbidities, have not been examined extensively. The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to examine how variables related to cancer and cancer treatment, comorbid health problems, health-related quality of life (QOL), and depression relate to SE for physical activity in cancer survivors. Methods: This secondary analysis examined treatment factors, comorbidity, and QOL data from 148 breast cancer and 134 prostate cancer survivors who had participated in studies examining exercise and QOL. A predictive regression model was developed by testing each variable individually with SE and including the variables that had a significance of ≤0.2 in a multivariate regression model. Results: For the breast cancer population, vitality (B=0.23, p=0.02), bodily pain (B=0.16, p=0.07), and mental health (B=0.15, p=0.01) were associated with SE for physical activity. For the prostate cancer survivors, education, (B=-0.20, p=0.036) vitality (B=0.26, p=0.01), and bodily pain (B=0.13, p=0.182) remained in the model. Conclusion: Treatment factors and comorbidities were not associated with SE for physical activity, but health-related QOL factors of vitality and bodily pain were associated with SE. Thus, subjective measures of well-being are important factors to consider when developing targeted interventions to increase physical activity in cancer survivors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Sufficient sleep is an important factor in physical and mental health. Sleep duration can be affected by socio-economic status (SES). This study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration and SES in Korean adolescents.Methods: This study was conducted with 1608 adolescents aged 12-18 years, based on data from the 2010 to 2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Sleep duration was self-reported in hours and three SES indicators were used: household income, basic livelihood security programmes and type of health insurance. Confounding factors in this study were age, mental health and physical activity.Results: Participants' average age was 15.6 ± 0.05 years and average sleep duration was 7.04 ± 0.05 h. There was a strong association between sleep duration and household income (P < 0.05) rather than other socio-economic indicators. In addition, it showed that sleep duration was significantly associated with age, body mass index (P < 0.05) and low mood is associated with short sleep and long sleep (>9 h/night). We found similar results in both genders, that is, that the highest income group had shorter sleep duration than the lowest income group.Conclusions: This study shows that the SES, particularly household income, is an important factor in short sleep duration in Korean adolescents. Our findings suggest that, in future investigations of the adolescent's sleep problem, attention should be paid to household income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]