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Normative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data from the general population are regularly used to facilitate the interpretation of HRQoL as reported by cancer patients participating in cancer clinical trials, especially when conducting long-term follow-up studies after treatment. The aim of the present study is to compare two Swedish normative data sets, published in 2000 and 2019 respectively, and explore whether HRQoL as reported by the Swedish general population has changed over time. 'Sample 2000' was comprised of normative data from the Swedish general population who responded to the EORTC QLQ-C30 in a Swedish mail survey in 1999 (n = 3069). 'Sample 2019' consisted of data from the Swedish general population collected as part of a European norm data study using online panels, published in 2019 (n = 1027). Data were analyzed stratified by sex and age (40–49; 50–59; 60–69; 70–79 years). For most of the subscales and single items, no age group differences between the two samples were found, with the exception of the oldest age group (70–79 years), where Sample 2019 generally showed better HRQoL as compared to Sample 2000. Lower (worse) levels of Global quality of life and higher (worse) levels of Dyspnoea were found in Sample 2019 for most age groups. There were no differences found between the samples for most EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales and single items, with the exception of the oldest age group of both sexes in Sample 2019 who reported better HRQoL on many variables. When deciding which normative dataset to use, the mode of data collection and age group have to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a college thesis which investigated the determinants of the outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery and is based on several papers previously published by F. G. Sigmundsson, B. Jönsson and B.Strömqvist, including papers which appeared in a 2013 issue of "Acta Orthopaedica", a 2012 issue of "Acta Orthopaedica" and a 2014 issue of "Spine".

Purpose. To study if partnership modifies the effect of gastrointestinal symptoms on quality of life after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Material and methods. Using a study-specific questionnaire we conducted a cross-sectional follow-up of the occurrence gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. We obtained information from 874 prostate cancer survivors treated with radiation therapy at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden between 1994 and 2006. In this paper we describe how partnership status affects the association between gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life. Results. We found that unpartnered men with gastrointestinal symptoms reported a lower quality of life than unpartnered men without such symptoms. Unpartnered men with symptoms had an excess risk of low quality of life compared with unpartnered men without symptoms for those experiencing altered composition of stools, prevalence ratio 3.8 (95% CI 1.1-13.1), leakage, 3.6 (1.3-10.1), sensory bowel symptoms, 4.5 (1.6-12.8), and for urgency, 4.2 (1.2-15.1). We also found that unpartnered men with symptoms had an excess risk of low quality of life compared with partnered men with symptoms for those experiencing altered composition of stools, prevalence ratio 2.9 (95% CI 1.4-5.8), leakage 2.8 (1.2-6.4), sensory bowel symptoms 3.4 (1.5-7.4), urgency 2.6 (1.2-5.8), and for any gastrointestinal symptom 2.5 (1.3-4.9). Conclusion. Unpartnered men may represent a group that is specifically vulnerable to the distressful effects of gastrointestinal symptoms after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. From March 1994 to March 1998, breast cancer patients (an estimated relapse risk with 70% or more within five years with standard therapy) were randomised to treatment with tailored fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) therapy or FEC followed by marrow-supported high dose therapy in the Scandinavian Breast Group 9401 study. The aim of the present paper was to investigate differences in toxicity and eight health-related quality of life (HRQoL) variables (physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, cognitive functioning, fatigue, nausea-vomiting, and global quality of life) between women in the six dose steps used in the tailored and granulocyte colony stimulating factor supported FEC-arm at the assessment point 16 weeks after random assignment to treatment. Methods. The European Organization and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 were mailed to the patients. Results. A total of 157 (87%) in the tailored FEC-group responded to the questionnaire within the time frame 16 weeks after inclusion in the study. Overall, toxicity was low, reaching grade 1--2 also in the higher dose steps. There were no overall differences between the dose steps on any of the tested HRQoL variables. Patients at dose step 4 scored statistically significantly higher on physical functioning than patients at dose step 1 (p == 0.022) and compared to those at dose step 2 (p == 0.014). Patients at dose steps −−2 and −−1 (combined to one group) reported statistically significantly higher mean scores on cognitive functioning than patients at dose step 1 (p == 0.022). Conclusion. Patients who received higher doses, based on the tailored dosing strategy, did not seem to have worse HRQoL than those who had lower doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the association of dental health care utilization with oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) across time focusing ageing Norwegian and Swedish adults adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need related-factors as defined by Andersen's model.Methods: Data were based on Norwegian and Swedish 1942 birth-cohorts conducted in 2007 (age 65) and 2012 (age 70). In Norway, the response rates ranged from 54% to 58%. Corresponding figures in Sweden were from 72% to 73%. Self-administered questionnaires assessed OIDP, dental care utilization and predisposing, enabling and need related factors. Logistic regression with robust variance estimation was used to adjust for clustering in repeated data.Results: Significant covariates of OIDP were satisfaction with dental services, dental care avoidance due to financial constraints, frightening experience with dental care during childhood and patient initiated dental visiting. Frequency and regularity of dental attendance were associated with OIDP in the Swedish cohort, only.Conclusions: In spite of country differences in the public co-financing of dental care, dental care utilization indicators were associated with OIDP across time in both cohorts. Encouraging regular and dentist initiated visiting patterns and strengthening beliefs in keeping own teeth could be useful in attempts to reduce poor oral health related quality of life in ageing people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives.To describe oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) and the impact of malocclusions or orthodontic treatment need in a cohort of children in Swedish dental care, using the Swedish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire–Impact Short Form (CPQ11–14–ISF:16).Subjects and methods.Two hundred and fifty-seven children (mean age = 11.5 years, SD = 0.8, range = 9.8–13.5 years) completed the CPQ11–14–ISF:16 in conjunction with a clinical examination. In addition to malocclusions and orthodontic treatment need (based on the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need–Dental Health Component), possible confounders (caries, enamel defects, dental trauma, headache and socio-economic markers) were recorded. Children also rated their own dental fear on the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule–Dental Sub-scale (CFSS-DS).Results.The mean total CPQ11–14–ISF:16 score was 9.31. The logistic regression analyses revealed an impact of orthodontic treatment need on OHRQoL (CPQ), but no clear association between higher severity and higher impact on OHRQoL was seen. Dental fear and headache appeared to discriminate for poorer OHRQoL. No impact from caries, enamel defects, dental trauma, or socio-economic markers was revealed.Conclusions.This cohort of children reported good self-perceived OHRQoL. Effects on OHRQoL from malocclusions or orthodontic treatment need were limited and inconsistent. Dental fear and headache were found to be more distinct impact factors on OHRQoL than were malocclusions or orthodontic treatment need. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. Treatment of localized prostate cancer (PC) is controversial. This is the first randomized study comparing an open surgery procedure (radical prostatectomy) with a combination of high-dose rate brachytherapy (2 × 10 Gy) and external beam radiotherapy (25 × 2 Gy) in PC patients in Sweden 1996-2001. The two randomization arms were compared regarding differences in patients-reported outcomes, such as complications and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Material and methods. The patients had localized/locally advanced PC, clinical category T1b-T3a, N0, M0 and PSA ≤ 50 ng/ml. All underwent total androgen blockade (six months). Self-reported HRQoL and symptoms including urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects were investigated prospectively before randomization and 12 and 24 months after randomization. A total of 89 patients were randomized and completed the EORTC QLQ C-33 and EORTC PR-25 questionnaires. Results. Over the study period, there were no discernible differences in HRQoL, or complications between the two groups. Emotional functioning, however, improved statistically significantly over time, whereas Social functioning decreased, and financial difficulties increased. No statistically significant differences in group-by-time interactions were found. The survival rate was 76%. Only eight patients (9%) died of PC. Conclusion. Open radical prostatectomy and the combined high-dose rate brachytherapy with external beam radiation appeared to be comparable in the measured outcomes. It was not possible to draw any conclusion on the efficacy of the two treatments due to insufficient power of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The objective of this study was: 1) to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores of breast cancer survivors to matched controls; and 2) to examine the relative impact (explained variance) of the type and number of co-morbidities on HRQoL. Material and methods. Data from the KARMA project was used in this cross-sectional study. For each woman diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 2552) there were two healthy age- and geographically matched females (n = 5104). Breast cancer survivors were categorized according to time since diagnosis: recently diagnosed (0-1 year), short- (2-5 years), mid- (6-10 years), and long-term survivors (> 10 years). Women completed a questionnaire addressing demographics (age, educational level, and geographical location), lifestyle factors (body mass index (BMI) and smoking), co-morbidities, and HRQoL. The difference in explained variance in six HRQoL-domains between demographics, lifestyle factors, and co-morbidity in women with breast cancer and matched controls was examined by hierarchical regression analyses. Results and conclusion. Women recently diagnosed (n = 63), reported the worst HRQoL followed by short-term survivors (2-5 years, n = 863). Thereafter, HRQoL scores further improved (6-10 years, n = 726), and were comparable to healthy females after 10 years (n = 893). Co-morbidity has a negative impact on HRQoL, which increased with time after diagnosis. Cardiovascular disease and depression were the strongest associates. Breast cancer survivors report clinically significant improvement in HRQoL scores six years after diagnosis. Co-morbidity has a negative impact on HRQoL, which increases with time after diagnosis, even though the number of co-morbidities remains stable. In long-term survivors there should be increasing awareness of co-morbidity and its impact on HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To provide further information about short-term effects on voice quality and health-related quality of life (HRQL) following radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer, comparing glottic and supraglottic tumours. Material and methods. Sixty-seven male patients who received radiotherapy for glottic and supraglottic tumours were included. Voice recordings were performed and patient reported outcome questionnaires filled in before radiotherapy and one-month post-completion. Acoustic and temporal measures were produced from the recordings and compared to an age-matched, vocally healthy control group (n = 23). Results. Deterioration of HRQL post-radiotherapy was noted for both the glottic and supraglottic cohort. Pre- radiotherapy the glottic cohort demonstrated acoustic and temporal measures that were statistically different from healthy controls, with improvements post-radiotherapy where several measures showed no statistically significant differences compared to healthy controls. The supraglottic cohort revealed voice measures comparable to the healthy controls but demonstrated statistically significant impairments in HRQL compared to the glottic cohort following radiotherapy. Conclusion. Patients with supraglottic tumours may experience more eating and swallowing related problems prior to radiotherapy compared to glottic tumours and demonstrate a more significant reduction in HRQL following treatment. However, in terms of voice measurements, subjective measures correlate poorly with objective acoustic parameters, thereby emphasising the importance of patient-reported outcomes as part of treatment evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. There is a need to establish clinically relevant thresholds (anchors) for identification of differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and thereby provide stronger evidence regarding the HRQoL of childhood cancer survivors. Aim. To investigate HRQoL in childhood cancer survivors with a standardised instrument and to establish thresholds for clinically significant differences by using qualitative interviews as anchors. An additional aim was to investigate survivors' HRQoL in relation to an age-matched comparison group without cancer experience. Material and methods. Self-rated HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-27) was assessed in a national cohort of survivors (n = 63, aged 12-22) and a comparison group (n = 257, aged 11-23). Findings from qualitative interview data were also used (n = 61); three subgroups ('Feeling like anyone else'; 'Feeling almost like others'; 'Feeling different') were identified based on survivors own perception of influence on daily life. Effect size calculations based on means from the KIDSCREEN-27 dimensions were performed using the subgroups as anchors to indicate clinical importance. Furthermore, standard multiple regression analyses were performed. Results. Effect sizes between the subgroups 'Feeling like anyone else' and 'Feeling almost like others' and the group 'Feeling different' were large for all dimensions (1.04-2.07). The multiple regression models showed that being a survivor was significantly associated with one of the dimensions, School Environment, where survivors scored higher HRQoL. Furthermore, female sex and older age (17-23 years) significantly contributed to lower self-rated HRQoL. Conclusion. In clinical practice the KIDSCREEN-27 could be a useful screening tool to identify survivors of childhood cancer in need of extra support, using KIDSCREEN dimension mean values of 45 or less as thresholds. Larger scale studies are recommended to identify and test thresholds with regard to different age groups and time since diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Physical activity during chemotherapy has been shown in several studies to reduce fatigue, improve symptoms and impact positively on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Challenges associated with intervention studies on physical activity during cancer treatment relate to consistent adherence. The primary objective was to study feasibility and adherence of physical activity intervention among patients with cancer during adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. The secondary objective was to investigate the effects of physical activity on health aspects, including HRQoL, symptoms and surrogate markers for cardiovascular disease. Material and methods. This randomized controlled trial included patients with breast cancer (BRCA) and colorectal cancer (CRC) during adjuvant chemotherapy. The intervention continued for 10 weeks and included daily walks of 10 000 steps and a weekly supervised group walk. Adherence was assessed by a pedometer and the number of participants who reported step counts every week and percentage of participants who achieved the target steps every week. Results. Adherence average reached 91% during the intervention period; in total 74% completed the exercise intervention. The majority of the participants achieved an average of 83% of the target of 10 000 steps per day for 10 weeks. There was a significant increase in daily physical activity (p = 0.016) in the intervention group. Significant differences were also found for some breast cancer-specific symptoms [swelling, mobility and pain (p = 0.045)]. The study showed a relatively small weight gain an average of 0.9 kg in the intervention group and 1.3 kg in the control group. Conclusion. Physical activity in the form of walking is feasible during adjuvant chemotherapy treatment despite increasing symptoms. The physical activity increased in the intervention group during the study time and had a positive impact on breast symptoms and the weight gain was lower in comparison to previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Trismus is a common symptom related to the treatment of head and neck (H&N) cancer. To date there are few prospective studies regarding the incidence of trismus and the patients' experience of trismus in daily life activities. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of trismus in H&N cancer patients and the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), by evaluating the patients before and after oncological treatment. Material and methods. We used the criteria for trismus of maximum interincisal opening (MIO) ≤ 35 mm and measured the patients at several occasions before and after treatment during one year. The patients answered the HRQL questionnaires EORTC QLQ C30, EORTC QLQ H&N 35, Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results. The incidence of trismus was 9% pre-treatment and 28% at the one-year follow-up post-treatment. The highest incidence, 38%, was found six months post-treatment. Patients with tumours of the tonsils were most prone to develop trismus. Patients with trismus reported greater HRQL impairments with regard to the GTQ domains; mouth opening (p < 0.001), jaw-related problems (p < 0.05), eating limitations (p < 0.05) and muscular tension (p < 0.001) six months post-treatment. EORTC QLQ H&N 35 scores indicated clinically significantly more problems with dry mouth, swallowing and pain for patients with trismus, 6-12 months post-treatment. Furthermore, all patients reported pain, anxiety and depression pre- and post-treatment. Conclusion. The incidence of trismus in patients with H&N cancer is non-negligible. Trismus severely impairs HRQL and negatively affects daily life activities in patients with H&N cancer. Further studies regarding symptomatic treatment of patients with trismus are highly warranted. The symptom-specific questionnaire GTQ is useful to identify the problems in this group of patients given it is responsive to showing change over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Anxiety and depression in cancer patients are associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Clinical interventions to detect and support patients with these symptoms need to be developed and evaluated. We investigated the feasibility of screening with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in a clinical oncology setting. In patients with anxiety or depression symptoms (HADS >7) we explored the use of clinical assessment and psychosocial support and described the development of anxiety, depression and HRQOL during a six-month period. Material and methods. Four hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients were screened for anxiety and depression at the time of their first visit at an oncology department (baseline). Half of the patients with HADS >7 on any of the two HADS subscales were referred to clinical assessment and psychosocial support (intervention group, IG) and half received standard care (SCG) using a historical control group design. HADS and EORTC QLQ-C30 were completed at baseline and after one, three and six months. Results. One hundred and seventy-six (36%) of 495 patients had anxiety or depression symptoms at screening, HRQOL at baseline was clearly impaired for them. Thirty-six (43%) of 84 IG patients attended clinical assessment, resulting in subsequent psychosocial support for 20 (24%) of them. In the SCG, only five (5%) patients attended clinical assessment after self referral, two received subsequent psychosocial support. Anxiety and depression decreased and HRQOL increased statistically significantly over time although anxiety was frequent and HRQOL impaired during the entire six month period. There were no differences between the SCG and IG regarding anxiety, depression or HRQOL at any time point. Conclusion. Systematic screening with HADS is feasible for oncology patients in clinical settings; it identifies patients with persistent symptoms and increases referral to clinical assessment and utilisation of psychosocial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To obtain reference values for health-related quality of life (HRQL) measured with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) in a random sample of the adult Swedish population. Methods. A population-based survey of a random sample of 7002 Swedish adults aged 40-79 years, frequency-matched to reflect the age and sex distribution of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients. Scales were scored on a 0-100 metric according to standard procedures. Functions and symptoms were dichotomized into "poor" versus "good" function, and "symptomatic" and "no or minor symptoms", respectively. The results were stratified for age and gender. Results. The questionnaire was completed by 4910 (70.5%) of 6969 eligible participants. Missing values were limited. HRQL was found to vary according to age and sex. Generally, men reported better functioning and fewer symptoms than women. The most common symptoms were fatigue, pain, and insomnia. Conclusion. The reference values provided can be used as a surrogate baseline measure in HRQL research, and when evaluating the effect of interventions on HRQL in cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. High incidence rates of breast cancer emphasize the importance of increased knowledge about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this patient group. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare HRQoL among breast cancer patients shortly after diagnosis with normative data from the general population, and to investigate how clinical, demographic, and socio-economic factors and social support are associated with HRQoL. Material and methods. Participants were identified in a population-based Breast Cancer Quality Register in central Sweden. Of 1573 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer during a one-year period (2007-2008), 69% (n == 1086) completed a questionnaire including the EORTC QLQ-C30, BR23 and the HADS. Results. Compared to age-adjusted normative data, breast cancer patients (mean age 62 years, range 25-94), especially younger women (<50 years), experienced clinically meaningful poorer HRQoL. Clinically significant levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms were found among 14% and 6% of the patients, respectively. Factors associated with more problems/symptoms among study participants included chemotherapy, lack of social support, sick leave and a poor financial situation. Adding socio-economic factors diminished the association between age and HRQoL (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Recently diagnosed breast cancer patients reported poorer HRQoL in several dimensions compared to normative data. In addition to clinical and demographic factors, an unfavorable socio-economic standing was associated with more problems/symptoms. The present findings emphasize the importance of taking a variety of factors into account when assessing HRQoL in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim was to compare two individualized patient reported outcomes or the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life -- Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) measuring quality of life in general, and the disease-related version (SEIQoL-DR) measuring quality of life related to disease. Both instruments have been used in clinical practice settings within oncology. The instruments were compared with regard to feasibility, the areas nominated by patients as important and patients'' ratings of how they were doing in these areas (Index scores). Material and methods. The study included 40 patients with gastrointestinal cancer. All patients completed both versions of the instrument on a touch screen computer in relation to a medical consultation. Firstly, the participants were invited to nominate the five domains she/he currently considered to be most important in life. Secondly, they were asked to rate how they were doing in each of these domains. Finally, they were asked to quantify the relative importance of each area. Cohen's effect sizes were calculated to illuminate the clinical importance of mean value differences. Results. Both instruments took less than ten minutes to complete and the procedure was considered feasible by both patients and interviewers. The proportion of patients nominating the same areas in the two versions did not differ, however, the SEIQoL-DW Index score was significantly higher than the corresponding score for the SEIQoL-DR. The detected difference in the mean score measured by effect size was medium. Conclusion. The magnitude of the effect size of the difference in Index score imply that the two versions tap into different constructs, i.e. quality of life (QoL) versus health-related QoL (HRQL), supporting the construct validity of the two versions of the instrument. The SEIQoL-DW and the SEIQoL-DR should be considered as complementary rather than interchangeable when used in patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of general diseases and medication on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a Swedish adult population using the Swedish version of Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP). Material and methods. A three-site sample of 200 adults (20-86 years; participation rate 70%) was interviewed using the OIDP, and a medical anamnesis was performed in 2006-7. A self-reported questionnaire provided complementary socio-economic data. Results. The burden of medical diagnoses and medications was greatest among the older participants in the study. The mean number of medicines in regular users was: ≥60 years, 3.6 (SD 2.6); 40-59 years, 1.9 (SD 1.5); and 20-40 years, 1.9 (SD 1.8) (p =0.013). There were no gender differences in general health or medication variables. Self-reported health, medical diagnoses and medication were significantly and consistently associated with the OIDP score: subjects with ≥1 diagnosis, OR 2.22 (95% CI 1.19-4.14) and subjects with ≥1 medicines, OR 1.85 (95% CI 1.01-3.40) versus those without diagnoses or medication. However, there was a clear gradient: OIDP scores increased with increasing numbers of diagnoses and medicines. Conclusion. The Swedish version of the OIDP was found useful for measuring impacts of general health and medication on OHRQoL. Dental care should pay special attention to patients with medical conditions or who are on medication, because these patients are more likely to experience oral impacts on daily performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Oral health has a major impact on general quality of life. The aspects of oral health that are most important for each individual vary, and quality of life is a construct and not a measurable variable. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of oral health on quality of life in an adult Swedish population. Material and methods. The study comprised a stratified random sample of 519 individuals. The OHIP-14 questionnaire was used and the answers were rated on a scale of 0-4. Results. Twenty-one percent of the respondents stated that they had no oral problems related to well-being, and 79% had some form of problem related to quality of life. The mean value for the entire population was 6.4 (SD = 7.1); 5.9 (SD = 7.1) for men and 6.8 (SD = 7.2) for women. Of individuals who stated that they had oral problems, the majority were women aged 20 years. Nineteen percent of 30-year-old men and 53% of 70-year-old women stated that they had had problems that had made life less satisfactory. Individuals who frequently experienced problems related to oral health, with scores of 16-41 points, accounted for 10%. Conclusion. In this Swedish population, a number of individuals, young and old, experienced oral problems that had an impact on their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) is investigated in this study. The aim was to explore the dimensionality of variables measuring OHRQOL in an adult Swedish population and to discuss the findings in relation to existing indices. The study was based on responses to a 1998 questionnaire sent to a random sample of 1974 persons aged between 50 and 75 years. There were 22 variables based on questions concerning oral situation and the impact on 7 theoretically different dimensions of QOL. The majority were satisfied with their oral health situation. During the previous 12 months, 16% of the population had experienced problems with their mouth or teeth on at least one occasion per mouth. Principal components analysis was used to analyze the dimensionality of the variables. Three factors accounted for 59% of the variance: (1) Physical and social disability, (2) psychological discomfort and disability, and (3) functional limitation and physical pain. The perception of OHRQOL is multidimensional, but the dimensions are not equally important. The dimensions of OHRQOL found in the present study are similar to those of existing instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to analyse use of psoriasis care and expectations from a gender perspective in a psoriasis population. The study is based on questionnaire data from 1060 subjects. The response rate was 74%. The relation between care consumption and studied variables was measured using regression and chi‐square analysis. Care consumption was strongly influenced by age, quality of life, income and joint symptoms. Men visited a dermatologist more often, while women visited a general practitioner and treated themselves topically more frequently. Important expectations among both women and men concerned the receiving of professional care and amelioration, while more women wanted to be treated politely. Expectations were fulfilled, except those regarding amelioration, especially among men. Awareness of gender differences is important among professionals. In order to decrease such differences decision‐makers should provide for a maintained specialized care as well as a local health care system of high standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is not known whether postoperative occupational therapy is of value for hip fracture patients. In this randomized trial we evaluated the effects of an individualized, postoperative, occupational training (OT) program on the patient's self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQL) and self-reported abilities to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Patients and methods 100 eligible patients (aged = 65 years) were randomized 50:50 to an OT or control group (termed the C group: conventional care). The OT group received individualized OT from day 3 or 4 after surgery and until discharge, and also a home visit. The patients answered the Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire (SWED-QUAL) and the modified Disability Rating Index (DRI) three times: 3–4 days after surgery, at discharge, and at follow-up after 2 months. Results We found no statistically significant differences between the groups at discharge and at follow-up regarding mean SWED-QUAL scores. However, on comparing each group over time, 2 months after the fracture the OT group had regained their self-reported pre-fracture HRQL status in 10 of 12 SWED-QUAL subscales, and the C group in 6 subscales. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the groups after 2 months regarding self-reported IADL (moving around indoors, performance of light housework, and getting in and out of a car). Interpretation Our findings indicate that the individualized occupational training improved the ability to perform IADL and appeared to speed up the recovery in some HRQL areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]