Nader N. Youssef

Bio: Nader N. Youssef is an academic researcher from Atlantic Health System. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quality of life & Psychosocial. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 466 citations.

Quality of Life for Children With Functional Abdominal Pain: A Comparison Study of Patients' and Parents' Perceptions

Abstract: OBJECTIVE. Children with chronic abdominal pain of nonorganic origin, termed functional abdominal pain (FAP), experience school absences and social withdrawal and report impaired physical ability. The aim of this study was to assess patients9 and parents9 perceptions of health-related quality of life (QoL) for children with FAP. METHODS. Between October 2002 and November 2003, 209 children (including 125 girls; age: 11.2 ± 3.5 years) and 209 parents were recruited from a pediatric referral center. At the time of their initial evaluations, participants completed a validated, health-related QoL instrument (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), which was scored on a scale of 0 (poor) through 100 (best). Children with FAP (n = 65) and their families were compared with control groups of healthy children (n = 46) and children with histologically proven inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n = 42) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (n = 56). RESULTS. Children with FAP had self-reported QoL scores (score: 78) that were similar to those for children with GERD (score: 80) or IBD (score: 84). Children with FAP had lower QoL scores than did healthy children (score: 88). Parents of children with FAP reported lower QoL scores, compared with their children9s scores (scores: 70 vs 78). CONCLUSIONS. Children with FAP reported lower QoL, compared with their healthy peers, and had the same QoL scores as did children with IBD or GERD. Parents9 perceptions of QoL for children with FAP were lower than their children9s self-reported scores. These findings highlight the clinical significance of FAP and may provide insight into one facet of the disease9s biopsychosocial etiology.

Chronic childhood constipation is associated with impaired quality of life: a case-controlled study.

Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic constipation on children's quality of life Methods: From October 2002 to November 2003, 224 children (140 male, 84 female, aged 106 ± 29 years) and 224 parents were evaluated by a health related quality of life tool during initial outpatient consultation Children with constipation (n = 80) were compared with controls with inflammatory bowel disease (n = 42), controls with gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 56), and with healthy children (n = 46) Results: Children with constipation had lower quality of life scores than did those with inflammatory bowel disease (70 versus 84; P < 005), gastroesophageal reflux disease (70 versus 80; P < 005), and healthy children (70 versus 88; P < 005) Children with constipation reported lower physical scores than did inflammatory bowel disease patients (75 versus 85; P < 002), gastroesophageal reflux disease patients (75 versus 85; P < 005), or healthy children (75 versus 87; P < 005) Parents of children with constipation reported lower scores than did their children (61 versus 70; P < 005) Children with constipation had longer duration of symptoms than did the controls with inflammatory bowel disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (438 months versus 142 months; P < 0001) Prolonged duration of symptoms fur children with constipation correlated with lower parent-reported scores (P < 0002) Conclusions: At initial evaluation, children with constipation have a lower quality of life than do children with inflammatory bowel disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease Self-reported lower scores may be a reflection of impaired physical ability Parental perceptions of low quality of life are probably impacted by the duration of their child's symptoms and by family members with similar complaints Practitioners should be aware of the high level of parental concern and the relatively low self-reported and parent-reported quality of life in children with chronic constipation as they plan therapy

School Nurse Knowledge and Perceptions of Recurrent Abdominal Pain: Opportunity for Therapeutic Alliance?

Abstract: Recurrent abdominal pain of childhood affects up to 15% of school-age children, who face significant psychosocial consequences, including school absence. Because assessment of recurrent abdominal pain is frequently made at the school nurse level, a questionnaire was sent to 425 school nurses to evaluate perceptions about recurrent abdominal pain. Among the responses, 47.1% believed children were faking or seeking attention; 3.6% considered it a serious disease, 77.9% stated that affected children should see a physician, 51.5% believed they should relax, and 25.0% believed they needed medicine. Results indicated that school nurses were unclear on epidemiologic and etiologic features of recurrent abdominal pain and had negative views that may inadvertently contribute to the anxiety felt by affected children. Education of school nurses and communication from physicians may advance strategies designed to reduce the fiscal and social costs associated with this common childhood condition.

Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract: This is the first attempt at defining criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The decision-making process was as for adults and consisted of arriving at consensus, based on clinical experience. This paper is intended to be a quick reference. The classification system selected differs from the one used in the adult population in that it is organized according to main complaints instead of being organ-targeted. Because the child is still developing, some disorders such as toddler’s diarrhea (or functional diarrhea) are linked to certain physiologic stages; others may result from behavioral responses to sphincter function acquisition such as fecal retention; others will only be recognizable after the child is cognitively mature enough to report the symptoms (e.g., dyspepsia). Infant regurgitation, rumination, and cyclic vomiting constitute the vomiting disorders. Abdominal pain disorders are classified as: functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia. Disorders of defecation include: infant dyschezia, functional constipation, functional fecal retention, and functional non-retentive fecal soiling. Some disorders, such as IBS and dyspepsia and functional abdominal pain, are exact replications of the adult criteria because there are enough data to confirm that they represent specific and similar disorders in pediatrics. Other disorders not included in the pediatric classification, such as functional biliary disorders, do occur in children; however, existing data are insufficient to warrant including them at the present time. For these disorders, it is suggested that, for the time being, clinicians refer to the criteria established for the adult population.

Epidemiology of constipation in children and adults: a systematic review.

Abstract: We aimed to review the published literature regarding the epidemiology of constipation in the general paediatric and adult population and to assess its geographic, gender and age distribution, and associated factors. A search of the Medline database was performed. Study selection criteria included: (1) studies of population-based samples; (2) containing data on the prevalence of constipation without obvious organic aetiology; (3) in paediatric, adult or elderly population; (4) published in English and full manuscript form. Sixty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria. The prevalence of constipation in the worldwide general population ranged from 0.7% to 79% (median 16%). The epidemiology of constipation in children was investigated in 19 articles and prevalence rate was between 0.7% and 29.6% (median 12%). Female gender, increasing age, socioeconomic status and educational level seemed to affect constipation prevalence.

Systematic review: impact of constipation on quality of life in adults and children

Abstract: Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 938–949 Summary Background Comparison of quality of life (QoL) across disease areas requires the use of appropriate tools. Although many studies have investigated QoL in constipation, most used disease-specific tools that are inappropriate for cross-comparisons. Aims To identify studies of QoL in constipation and to compare these results with other chronic conditions. Methods A comprehensive literature search identified studies in constipation that used a generic QoL tool. Results were statistically pooled where possible and compared with published results using the same tools in other chronic conditions. Results A total of 13 qualifying studies were identified, 10 in adults and three in children. Results from eight studies using the SF-36/12 tools were pooled; the remaining five were narratively reported. Mental and physical components of QoL scores were consistently impaired in both adult and child populations, with the greatest impact being seen in secondary care studies. Mental health effects predominated over physical domains. The magnitude of impact was comparable with that seen in patients with allergies, musculoskeletal conditions and inflammatory bowel disease. Conclusions The impact of constipation on QoL is significant and comparable with other common chronic conditions. Improving management may prove to be an effective way of improving QoL for a substantial number of patients.

Functional dyspepsia

Abstract: 功能性消化不良(functional dyspepsia, FD)又称非溃疡性消化不良(non-ulcer dyspepsia, NUD)是指一组目前尚无器质性原因可查,持续性或反复发作性的消化不良综合征,其主要症状为位于上腹中部的疼痛或不适,包括上腹胀满、餐后饱胀、嗳气、早饱、腹痛、厌食、恶心、呕吐等。