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Differences in quality of life were observed using two separate patient populations with end-stage renal disease who were on maintenance hemodialysis. The first population (91 patients) received epoetin beta (Marogen Sterile Powder, Chugai-Upjohn, Inc., Chicago, Ill.) for an average of 18 months. The second population (96 patients) did not receive this therapy. The measured quality of life parameters included a number of global and psychological well-being measurements and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), as well as energy, activity levels, appetite, work, and sexual function. When adjusted for covariates (health status and demographics), 16 of 26 parameters were significantly higher (p less than .05) in patients receiving epoetin beta. All mean scores for global measurements were significantly higher. Significantly higher scores were also obtained for total SIP and total psychosocial subscale, as well as for sleep, home management, recreation, emotional behavior, social interaction, ability to work, and energy. While not statistically significant, all of the remaining measurements were higher for epoetin beta than for untreated patients.

This study examines the validity of a system of measuring functional status, an important determinant of quality of life. With a group of elderly people who suffer from arthritis, we found that scores in the dimensions of dependence, difficulty, and pain on performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are positively correlated with client reports of joint conditions, ability to deal with their arthritis and attendant problems, and numbers of "good days." Instrument scores do not correlate with professional assessments of clients' joint condition or of their ability to deal with arthritis, although the two professional assessments correlate with each other. Thus it appears that client and professional definitions of joint condition differ; only the clients' definition relates to our measure of functional status.

Ten different multi-item indexes and nine single-item measures were used to assess the quality of life of patients undergoing one of four major modalities of treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Assessments were made on a population-based sample of Michigan patients with onset of ESRD after November 1, 1981, during the period May 1984 to September 1986. The nature of these measures is described and correlations among them are reported. The correlations suggest that these indexes tend to represent either function or feeling, with moderate relationships within the two clusters but little between them. Findings are also reported in terms of age, race, and sex. Depending on the measure chosen to assess quality of life, different conclusions about the relationship of quality of life to these demographic characteristics will be reached. These conclusions may help readers think more critically about the nature of quality of life in arriving at judgments on the relative validity of these different measures.

In 1983, the 217 hospitals of the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) were surveyed to learn more about their efforts in health promotion programming. Eighty percent (174 hospitals) responded to the survey, with 48% reporting on 532 programs. Those programs included 216 in health promotion as defined by the survey instructions, 110 in disease management, 66 in first aid and safety, 87 screening, and 53 miscellaneous education programs. Further particulars about the programs are presented, including information regarding program audience, times offered per year, median enrollment, median participant hours, program age, number and type of educational methods used, follow-up methods, and fees charged. Hospital administrators' perceptions regarding health promotion programs were also surveyed. They indicated a higher level of interest in providing such programs because they viewed them as a needed community service. Conversely, they did not see them as a revenue generator. Seventy-two percent of the responding administrators indicated they currently offered health promotion programs, although only 48% submitted information regarding them. Seventy percent said they planned to begin new health promotion programs within the next 12 months, while only 6% planned to discontinue programs in the new year.