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Objective Plantar warts (PW) are a benign skin infection of keratinocytes caused by Human Papilloma Virus that can cause significant morbidity leading to an impairment of quality of life (QoL). The objective of this study was to determine the mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in patients with plantar warts. Methods 98 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey conducted in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. DLQI was determined for each enrolled patient. Results Mean DLQI score was found to be 9.4±5.4 which falls in the category of moderate impairment of QoL. Conclusion PW cause significant morbidity leading to a moderate to severe impairment of DLQI in about two thirds of the cases, especially in young, male and educated subjects with chronic PW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are not routinely used in clinical care by pediatric liver transplant (LT) teams. The Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation (SNEPT) assessed feasibility of using a disease‐specific Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire in the ambulatory setting at 10 SNEPT sites. Methods: A mixed methods feasibility project assessing administration processes, barriers, and user experiences with the Pediatric Liver Transplant Quality of Life (PeLTQL) tool. Iterative processes sought stakeholder feedback across four phases (Pilot, Extended Pilot, Development of a Mobile App PeLTQL version, and Pilot App use). Results: A total of 149 patient–parent dyads completed the PeLTQL during LT clinic follow‐up. Clinicians, parents, and patients evaluated and reported on feasibility of operationalization. Only two of 10 SNEPT sites continued PeLTQL administration after the initial two pilot phases. Reasons include limited clinical time and available personnel aggravated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. In response, a mobile application version of the PeLTQL was initiated. Providing PeLTQL responses electronically was "very easy" or "easy" as reported by 96% (22/23) parents. Conclusions: Administration of a PROM into post‐pediatric LT clinical care was feasible, but ongoing utilization stalled. Use of a mobile app towards facilitating completion of the PeLTQL outside of clinic hours may address the time and work‐flow barriers identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Menstrual symptoms have been identified as a substantial burden among women of reproductive age, affecting their health status and quality of life globally. A range of menstrual symptoms have been studied as they affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), showing variations across specific menstrual symptoms and study settings. A major concern is demonstrated due to menstrual symptoms in women’s professional and social life, and consequently societal and economic loss for women and the society at large. Yet evidence is scarce that estimates the index form HRQoL score related to menstrual symptoms that is needed for health economic evaluations. Methods This study aims to investigate the association between menstrual symptoms and the HRQoL among working women in Japan in an index form, using a self-reporting questionnaire (n = 6048). The EQ-5D-3L (EuroQoL 5-dimension 3-level) is used that is a widely used tool to measure health outcomes for health economic evaluations globally. Multivariate regression analysis is conducted to assess the association between the HRQoL score and specific nineteen physical and mental conditions related to menstruation (e.g., pain, heavy bleeding, concentration, negative affect). Results The index form HRQoL score for menstrual symptoms is estimated as 0.682 in the study population (where a score one suggests perfect health). The association of the HRQoL score varies substantially across the menstrual symptoms. Several of the physical conditions and disorders show a substantial negative association with the HRQoL score. Also, most of the mental and psychological issues are significantly and negatively related to the HRQoL score. Conclusions This study suggests that HRQoL is substantially and negatively affected by menstruation among working women in Japan. Distinct variations of negative influences across menstrual symptoms underscore the multi-dimensional nature of menstruation and consequently the need of collective interventions to address these difficulties. The evidence of HRQoL continues to be an important area for future research on women’s health and health economic evaluations to inform effective and efficient resource allocations for relevant health policies and financing strategies.

Abstract Background When curative treatments are no longer available for cancer patients, the aim of treatment is palliative. The emphasis of palliative care is on optimizing quality of life and provided support for patients nearing end of life. However, chemotherapy is often offered as a palliative therapy for patients with advanced cancer nearing death. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the state of the science relative to use of palliative chemotherapy and maintenance of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer who were at end of life. Materials and methods Published research from January 2010 to December 2019 was reviewed using PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Proquest, ISI web of science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. MeSH keywords including quality of life, health related quality of life, cancer chemotherapy, drug therapy, end of life care, palliative care, palliative therapy, and palliative treatment. Findings 13 studies were evaluated based on inclusion criteria. Most of these studies identified that reduced quality of life was associated with receipt of palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer at the end of life. Conclusion Studies have primarily been conducted in European and American countries. Cultural background of patients may impact quality of life at end of life. More research is needed in developing countries including Mideastern and Asian countries.

Background: Menstrual symptoms have been identified as a substantial burden among women of reproductive age, affecting their health status and quality of life globally. A range of menstrual symptoms have been studied as they affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), showing variations across specific menstrual symptoms and study settings. A major concern is demonstrated due to menstrual symptoms in women's professional and social life, and consequently societal and economic loss for women and the society at large. Yet evidence is scarce that estimates the index form HRQoL score related to menstrual symptoms that is needed for health economic evaluations.Methods: This study aims to investigate the association between menstrual symptoms and the HRQoL among working women in Japan in an index form, using a self-reporting questionnaire (n = 6048). The EQ-5D-3L (EuroQoL 5-dimension 3-level) is used that is a widely used tool to measure health outcomes for health economic evaluations globally. Multivariate regression analysis is conducted to assess the association between the HRQoL score and specific nineteen physical and mental conditions related to menstruation (e.g., pain, heavy bleeding, concentration, negative affect).Results: The index form HRQoL score for menstrual symptoms is estimated as 0.682 in the study population (where a score one suggests perfect health). The association of the HRQoL score varies substantially across the menstrual symptoms. Several of the physical conditions and disorders show a substantial negative association with the HRQoL score. Also, most of the mental and psychological issues are significantly and negatively related to the HRQoL score.Conclusions: This study suggests that HRQoL is substantially and negatively affected by menstruation among working women in Japan. Distinct variations of negative influences across menstrual symptoms underscore the multi-dimensional nature of menstruation and consequently the need of collective interventions to address these difficulties. The evidence of HRQoL continues to be an important area for future research on women's health and health economic evaluations to inform effective and efficient resource allocations for relevant health policies and financing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prospective data on QoL after pulmonary SBRT of patients with small lung nodules. • Long-term preservation of QoL after pulmonary SBRT. • First trial revealing QoL-benefit for lung-SBRT patients with low initial QoL-score. • Long-term QoL-benefit for frail patients encourages lung-SBRT in such patients. • For lung-SBRT 3X12.5 Gy to 60% isodose is efficient and well tolerated. Preserving health related quality of life (HRQOL) plays an important role in considering stereotactic body fractionated radiotherapy (SBRT). The prospective monocenter phase II STRIPE trial investigated long-term HRQOL after SBRT, efficacy and toxicity. Patients with ≤2 pulmonary lesions ≤5 cm were treated with 4DPET/CT-based SBRT (3 × 12.5 Gy or risk-adapted 5 × 7 Gy, to 60% isodose). Follow up (FU) was performed 2 and 7 weeks after SBRT, then 3-monthly for 2 years with assessment of response (primary endpoint: 2-year cumulative incidence of local progression (LP); secondary endpoints: local progression free survival (LPFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity (CTCAE)). Impact of predefined patient and treatment related factors on HRQOL (EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-LC13) was evaluated. Between 02/2011 and 11/2014, 100 patients were given SBRT for 56 NSCLC and 44 pulmonary metastases (M1). Long-term FU overall revealed stable Quality of Life (QoL)/Global health status (GHS), functions-scores and symptoms. For QoL/GHS, patients with low (

The aim of our review was to collect and analyze all the available literature about surgical treatment penile carcinoma to understand the real implication of this kind of surgery on patients' quality of life (QoL). A systematic literature search (English or French written literature) was conducted in electronic database MEDLINE, using the key search terms "Penectomy AND quality of life." Studies from 1994 to 2017 concerning the implications of surgical treatment for penile carcinoma were collected and analyzed. A manual search of reference lists of included studies and review articles was successively performed. All references of the retrieved studies were also reviewed to avoid missing relevant publications. Ten articles were included in the systematic review. The studies were settled in Denmark, Brazil, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, China, and the United States. The enrolled patients ranged from 4 to 155 and had a mean age at the interview of 50.5'67 years old. Patients underwent several types of surgery: glansectomy, partial or total amputation, emasculation. Sexual function represented the most important element negatively influenced by the surgical treatment especially for patients who underwent more invasive treatments leading to anxiety or depression. Most patients didn't report significant alterations of their QoL and reported satisfying relationships with their partners because of the support received from them. The age was one of the most important aspects that influenced the QoL. In conclusion, in contrast to what expected our review demonstrated an excellent overall QoL after surgery for penile carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a hierarchical social classification associated with different outcomes in health and disease. The most important factors influencing SES are income, educational level, occupational class, social class, and ancestry. These factors are closely related to each other as they present certain dependent interactions. Since there is a need to improve the understanding of the concept of SES and the ways it affects health and disease, we review herein the tools currently available to evaluate SES and its relationship with health and autoimmune diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) are less physically active than the general population and pragmatic approaches designed to equip them with the skills and confidence to participate in long-term physical activity are required. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of a pragmatic exercise intervention in PwMS. Methods: A voluntary sample of 30 PwMS (male n =4, female n =26; mean age=40years; range=24–49years), with mild to moderate disability (EDSS≤5.5), were recruited from eligible participants attending outpatient clinics. A total of 28 participants were randomised to a 10week pragmatic exercise intervention (2× supervised and 1× home-based session per week) or usual care. Clinical, functional and quality of life (MSQoL-54) outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately and 3months after the intervention. Results: Attrition was low (2 participants lost to immediate follow-up and 4 participants lost to 3month follow-up), with high compliance rates (>75% of all sessions). The intervention group achieved progression of exercise volume (24.3±7.0 to 30.9±5.5min per session), intensity (60.4±8.8 to 67.7±6.9% HR max) and training impulse (min×average HR=training impulse/load [arbitrary units; AU]) (2600±1105 to 3210±1269AU) during the intervention, whilst significantly increasing(P =0.050) their physical composite score (MSQOL-54) at 10weeks and readiness to exercise (P =0.003) at 3months compared with usual care. Conclusion: This pragmatic intervention was feasible for PwMS, but further research is needed to assess its long-term impact on physical activity behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: No sufficiently validated disease-specific instrument is available to assess patient outcome after polytrauma. The aim of this investigation was to test the recently published Trauma Outcome Profile (TOP) in the longer-term outcome of multiply injured patients. Methods: Single centre validation study on the TOP in comparison with objective and subjective measures of patient, injury or treatment characteristics and longer-term outcome (e.g. medical outcomes study Short Form-36, SF-36; Nottingham Health Profile, NHP; working capacity), at least 2 years following trauma in 117 survivors of polytrauma (injury severity score, ISS>16), using comparative analysis and correlation testing of prospectively collected data. Results: Patients’ mean weighted self-rating with regard to the 10 single TOP dimensions of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL, 0–100) ranged from lowest values for mental functioning (52.6+33.5) to highest values for daily activities (79.0+27.5). The rate of persons who indicated an abnormal level of function or pain increased significantly from pre-injury status (2% and 5%, resp.) to 46% for both values at longer-term follow-up (p <0.001). Observed associations between single dimensions or TOP component summary scores with the corresponding values from general HRQol instruments, such as the SF-36, resulted in R (Pearson) up to 0.85. Survivors of polytrauma who presented with a reduced working capacity (RWC) at longer-term follow-up in all TOP dimensions included a significantly higher rate of patients conspicuous for a relevantly reduced outcome compared with those with a non reduced working capacity (NRWC) (posttraumatic stress disease, PTSD: p <0.05; all other dimensions: p <0.001). Patients with a RWC were characterised by an almost fivefold probability of reduced outcome with regard to the TOP dimensions ‘social interaction’ or ‘satisfaction’ (odds ratio, OR 12.4 (95% CI 5.1–30.1) and 12.5 (4.0–39.0), resp.). Conclusions: This first clinical and methodological evaluation in a well defined cohort of polytrauma patients found the TOP to be a reliable and well discriminating score covering both relevant general and trauma-specific aspects of longer-term outcome. Despite these promising primary results, until further validation, the TOP should be used together with already accepted HRQoL measures to allow adequate international comparison of data in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present article discusses the nature of quality of life (QOL) in general and critically evaluates its application in the area of health and illness. As regards health related quality of life (HRQoL), it is now widely recognised that treating a disease in a purely biomedical framework, where emphasis is only on curing the disease and on providing prolonged life to the patient, is not sufficient. Now the focus is also on how to enhance the QOL of patients. In this context this article attempts to identify and critically evaluate some of the contemporary issues relevant in the area of HRQoL. The issues covered in this article include relatively simple issues related to the meaning, importance, usefulness and prevalent approaches in the area of HRQoL research and complex issues such as (i)who would be accountable for a patient's HRQoL (ii)being HRQoL stable or it changing over time (response shift) for people facing chronic diseases and (iii)whether gender differences exist in this regard. Lastly, the article also discusses the implication of HRQoL in the area of health management and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]