Showing papers on "Quality of life published in 1981"

Prognosis in Nontraumatic Coma

Abstract: We conducted serial neurologic examinations on 500 patients in nontraumatic coma to identify factors predicting recovery. Overall, 81 patients (16%) led an independent life at some point within the first year; the remainder either died without recovery from coma (61%), never improved beyond the vegetative state (12%), or regained consciousness but remained dependent on others for daily activities (11%). Functional recovery did not depend on age but was to some degree related to the cause of coma (subarachnoid hemorrhage and other cerebrovascular disease having the worst recovery; hypoxia-ischemia, intermediate; and hepatic and miscellaneous causes, best) and especially to early clinical signs of brain dysfunction. Even within hours of the onset of coma, only one of 120 patients lacking two of corneal, pupillary, and oculovestibular responses ever regained independent function. The study identifies clinical features of comatose patients that appear within the first week and that are important for predicting recovery and designing future therapeutic trials.

Religion in patients with advanced cancer

Abstract: Data on religious belief, activity, and connections, and ratings of happiness, life satisfaction, and pain level were obtained periodically from 71 patients with advanced cancer. Religious belief showed substantial positive correlation with life satisfaction, and religious activity and connections were significantly correlated with both happiness and life satisfaction. Religious patients also reported significantly lower levels of pain, even though they were no less likely to report the presence of pain. Data from the 36 patients who have since died show no correlation between the religion variables and duration of survival. In general, the patients showed little change in religious belief over time. Religion seems to be an important source of support for many patients.

Quality of long-term survival following irradiation for intracranial tumors in children under the age of two

Abstract: Thirty-eight children aged two and under who received radiotherapy alone or post-operatively for primary intracranial tumors from 1957 to 1974 were retrospectively studied for survival rate, late radiation sequelae, and quality of survival. There were 24 deaths, all attributed to the primary disease or its complications. The five, ten, and fifteen year absolute survival rates were 50 %, 39 %, and 38 % respectively, with posterior fossa tumors faring best. The 14 survivors, aged 6 to 21 1 2 years, were evaluated fore physical, neurologic, endocrinologic, and psychologic abnormalities. Eight were found to have minimal or no abnormal neurologic findings, 11 were within the educable range on formal intelligence testing, and 12 had Karnofsky performance scores of 70 or better. There was little clinical evidence of severe endocrinologic dysfunction except for short stature in three. patients correlated with a dose of greater than 3600 rad to the hypothalamic-pituitary region. The patients were assigned to a proposed “Composite Quality of Survival Scale”(CQS) graded 1 to 5 based upon their overall quality of life evaluation. Eight of the patients were rated Grade 3 or better, with three patients essentially normal in most respects. We conclude that the data justify the continued use of radiotherapy in the treatment of very young children with brain tumors. However, there is the obvious need for further optimization of radiotherapy factors (time, dose, volume) in order to minimize the potential late effects of radiation to the central nervous system.

Marital Status, Happiness, and Anomia

Abstract: A common theme in the literature of marriage and the family is that the marital relationship protects the individual from the normlessness and alienation of an impersonal world. Using data from the 1976 National Opinion Research Center (NOR C) General Social Survey, this research examines the effects of marital status and marital happiness on anomia, as measured by the Srole Scale. Controlling for relevant background variables, the results indicate that neither marital status nor marital happiness is related to anomia. There is, however, a moderately strong negative relationship between education and anomia and a weak negative relationship between overall life satisfaction and anomia. These results indicate that socioeconomic status remains the primary determinant of anomia for most Americans.

The quality of life after cardiac surgery.

Abstract: A follow-up study to assess the quality of life after cardiac surgery was begun in 1973. The results, for a total of 383 patients followed up for a maximum of 44 months after surgery, showed an overall improvement in all aspects of life for most patients.

Late Stage Cancer Patients: Age Differences in Their Psychophysical Status and Response to Counseling.

Abstract: Much has been written about working with dying patients. To evaluate counseling, 120 terminally ill cancer patients were randomly assigned to counseling or no counseling and studied before random assignment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months on quality of life variables (alienation, depression, locus of control, life satisfaction, self-esteem) as well as functional status and survival. Counseled patients changed significantly in comparison to controls and in a favorable direction by 3 months. The purpose here was to see if older and younger cancer patients differed at baseline and if outcomes of counseling differed by age. Patients under age 60 were compared with those 60 and over. There was no multivariate difference at baseline but univariate differences of more disability and less life satisfaction in the older group. Overall, response to therapy was similar in old and young, with both improving.