Quality of life

About: Quality of life is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 42912 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1198363 citations. The topic is also known as: life quality.

Effect of digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on health, psychological well-being, and sleep-related quality of life: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract: Importance: Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (dCBT) is a scalable and effective intervention for treating insomnia. Most people with insomnia, however, seek help because of the daytime consequences of poor sleep, which adversely affects quality of life. Objectives: To investigate the effect of dCBT for insomnia on functional health, psychological well-being, and sleep-related quality of life and to determine whether a reduction in insomnia symptoms was a mediating factor. Design, Setting, and Participants: This online, 2-arm, parallel-group randomized trial comparing dCBT for insomnia with sleep hygiene education (SHE) evaluated 1711 participants with self-reported symptoms of insomnia. Participants were recruited between December 1, 2015, and December 1, 2016, and dCBT was delivered using web and/or mobile channels plus treatment as usual; SHE comprised a website and a downloadable booklet plus treatment as usual. Online assessments took place at 0 (baseline), 4 (midtreatment), 8 (posttreatment), and 24 (follow-up) weeks. Programs were completed within 12 weeks after inclusion. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were scores on self-reported measures of functional health (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System: Global Health Scale; range, 10-50; higher scores indicate better health); psychological well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale; range, 14-70; higher scores indicate greater well-being); and sleep-related quality of life (Glasgow Sleep Impact Index; range, 1-100; higher scores indicate greater impairment). Secondary outcomes comprised mood, fatigue, sleepiness, cognitive failures, work productivity, and relationship satisfaction. Insomnia was assessed with the Sleep Condition Indicator (range: 0-32; higher scores indicate better sleep). Results: Of the 1711 participants included in the intention-to-treat analysis, 1329 (77.7%) were female, mean (SD) age was 48.0 (13.8) years, and 1558 (91.1%) were white. Use of dCBT was associated with a small improvement in functional health compared with SHE (adjusted difference [95% CI] at week 4, 0.90 [0.40-1.40]; week 8, 1.76 [1.24-2.28]; week 24, 1.76 [1.22-2.30]) and psychological well-being (adjusted difference [95% CI] at week 4, 1.04 [0.28-1.80]; week 8, 2.68 [1.89-3.47]; week 24, 2.95 [2.13-3.76]), and with a large improvement in sleep-related quality of life (at week 4, −8.76 [−11.83 to −5.69]; week 8, –17.60 [−20.81 to −14.39]; week 24, −18.72 [−22.04 to −15.41]) (all P < .01). A large improvement in insomnia mediated these outcomes (range mediated, 45.5%-84.0%). Conclusions and Relevance: Use of dCBT is effective in improving functional health, psychological well-being, and sleep-related quality of life in people reporting insomnia symptoms. A reduction in insomnia symptoms mediates these improvements. These results confirm that dCBT improves both daytime and nighttime aspects of insomnia, strengthening existing recommendations of CBT as the treatment of choice for insomnia. Trial Registration isrctn.org identifier: ISRCTN60530898

Symptom Experience and Quality of Life of Women Following Breast Cancer Treatment

Abstract: Background: Few studies have examined the correlates of breast cancer-related symptoms that persist posttreatment and determined the relationship between symptoms and quality of life (QOL). Methods: A population-based sample of women in the United States with stage 0–II breast cancer (n = 1372) completed a survey including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire. Described are the presence and frequency of 13 symptom scales and their associations with 10 QOL dimensions. Results: All study participants had completed primary treatment (surgery and radiation and/or chemotherapy, if applicable). Mean time from initial surgical treatment to completion of the questionnaire was 7.2 months (range 0.5–14.9 months). Mean number of symptoms reported was 6.8, with the 5 most common symptom scales being systemic therapy side effects (87.7%), fatigue (81.7%), breast symptoms (72.1%), sleep disturbance (57.1...

Symptom burden and quality of life in survivorship: a review of the literature.

Abstract: Background Cancer has a great impact on the well-being of affected persons and their caregivers long into survivorship. Objective This article reviews the state of science on the survivorship experience of cancer survivors and caregivers, with a focus on symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) after treatment termination. Methods The primary databases utilized included PubMed and CINAHL. Search results were limited to human participants, English language, and publications from 2008 to 2013. The articles retrieved included studies of prostate, breast, colorectal, and gynecologic cancers during adulthood. Results As many as a third of cancer survivors experienced symptoms after treatment cessation equivalent to those experienced during treatment. Fatigue, depression or mood disturbance, sleep disruption, pain, and cognitive limitation were commonly reported by survivors across various malignancies; depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance affected some caregivers. The studies indicated residual symptoms that extend into survivorship have a great impact on QOL and are associated with disability and healthcare utilization. Younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and increased comorbidities are associated with poorer QOL and higher symptom distress in cancer survivors. Younger age and lower income are associated with greater distress and poorer QOL in caregivers. Conclusions Survivors and caregivers struggle with symptom burden and diminished QOL long into survivorship. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the persistence and severity of symptom burden over time as well as long-term and late effects of these symptoms. Implications for practice Interventions designed to help alleviate symptom burden in those most affected are needed.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic respiratory insufficiency. 7. Health-related quality of life among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialised nations. It is essentially incurable and, for many, inexorably progressive; health care providers spend much effort trying to minimise patients' symptoms and to improve their ability to function in dayto-day life. While improved survival time is an important aim of treatment, there is growing recognition that improving the quantity of an individual's life may not be the only goal; for some, improving the quality of life may be far more important. Since reducing symptoms, increasing function, and improving the quality of life are central therapeutic goals for patients with COPD, as for many chronic diseases, it is important for researchers and clinicians to develop a common understanding of what is meant by these phrases and how these concepts can be measured. In the past 10 years there has been an increasing body of literature on measurement of quality of life in patients with COPD and, more recently, on the efficacy of therapeutic agents based on quality of life measures. Studies measuring the quality of life in these patients appeared in the mid 1980s'4 when quality of life measures were used to assess continuous oxygen therapy,' intermittent positive pressure breathing,6 and, more recently, in the assessment of theophylline,7 inhaled bronchodilators,8 home respiratory nursing care,9 and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.'0 As this trend continues it is important for clinicians to understand and assess these measures to help decide whether a new treatment is valuable. We will review quality of life measures in patients with COPD with the emphasis on issues important to the clinician who seeks an understanding of quality of life measures as they are used in therapeutic trials.