ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Polyhandicap (PLH) is a condition of severe and complex disabilities and is defined by a combination of profound intellectual impairment and serious motor deficits. Parents of PLH individuals are chronically confronted with stressful situations. The aims of this study are i) to assess and compare the quality of life (QoL) of a large panel of parents of PLH individuals with age- and gender-matched controls and ii) to identify potential determinants of parents' QoL. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Parents were recruited from 4 specialized rehabilitation centres, 9 residential facilities, and a specialized paediatric/neurological department. The selection criteria were age above 18 years and being the mother/father of a PLH individual. The data collected from the parents included sociodemographic, health status, and psycho-behavioural data (including QoL); additionally, the health status of the PLH individuals was collected. RESULTS: The QoL scores of all dimensions were significantly lower for parents than for controls. The main factors modulating parents' QoL were financial issues, health status, and coping strategies. The PLH individuals' health status was not associated with parents' QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Some QoL determinants might be amenable. These findings should help health care workers and health decision makers to implement specific and appropriate interventions.
Subject(s)
Disabled Persons/psychology , Parents/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Fathers/psychology , Female , France , Health Personnel/psychology , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mothers/psychology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this paper is to assess the relationships between psycho-behavioral determinants and quality of life in individuals with age-related hearing loss. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed in a French preventive health center, Marseille, France (Institut Régional d'Information et de Prévention de la Sénescence). The patients had a bilateral (mild to moderately severe) age-related hearing loss. Data collected included : sociodemographics, general health information, quality of life (Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire), emotional status (anxiety and mood disorders), emotional intelligence (Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form), and coping strategies (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale). RESULTS: Quality of life was linked to psycho-behavioral factors, such as emotional status, emotional intelligence, and coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: These findings would assist health authorities and clinicians in choosing targeted appropriate interventions to improve quality of life of age related hearing loss individuals.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Aging/physiology , Hearing Loss/psychology , Persons With Hearing Impairments/psychology , Quality of Life , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , France/epidemiology , Hearing Loss/epidemiology , Hearing Tests/methods , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to report nutritional status in a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and to study the influence of nutritional status on their quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This work was a longitudinal cohort study performed at a French university teaching hospital. Eligible patients were individuals with a cancer needing treatment based on exclusive chemotherapy. Three work-ups were performed: i) before the administration of the first course of chemotherapy: T1, ii) before the administration of the second (for patients with 3 planned courses) or third (patients with 6 planned courses) course: T2, and iii) before the administration of the last planned course: T3. The following data were collected: general health (performance status) and nutritional status (weight, anorexia grading, albuminemia, pre-albuminemia, and C-reactive protein) and QoL. RESULTS: The nutritional status of patients with cancer was preserved. Functional impairment, the presence of anorexia, the palliative nature of the chemotherapy, and an elevated C-reactive protein dosage were independent predictive factors of a lower QoL among patients assessed at the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although larger studies should corroborate these findings, clinicians may include this information in the management of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy to identify the most vulnerable patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials NCT01687335 (registration date: October 6, 2011).
