A study of disability before and after radiotherapy among head and neck cancer patients residing around atomic power plant.

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a profoundly distressing condition that can have significant psychological implications. It has the potential to impact various fundamental aspects of an individual's life, resulting in functional impairments and structural deformities depending on the location, size, and route of spread, therefore causing significant disability. Yet, this has not been adequately studied. People residing around areas around the atomic radiation power plant are exposed to radiation, and also, contamination of water sources, including the Chambal River, which is a major source of water needs of this area, may have a role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of cancer patients. Aim: This study aimed to study disability in patients with head and neck cancer before and after radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in association with the Department of Radiotherapy of a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan. Fifty consecutive HNC patients aged 18 to 65 years fulfilling inclusion criteria, specifically laid down for the study, constituted the sample of the study. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule version 2.0 (WHODAS-2.0) was used. Results: The mean age of patients was 49.62 years. A statistically significant improvement after radiotherapy was found in disability scores in domains of cognition (2.39 vs. 1.88), self-care (2.39 vs. 1.78), and getting along with people domain (2.38 vs. 1.83). Conclusion: Disability improved significantly in patients after radiotherapy in the domains of self-care, getting along with people, and cognition.

Caregiver burden on wives of substance-dependent husbands and its correlates at a Tertiary Care Centre in Northern India.

BACKGROUND: Substance dependence is well recognized as a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon. Complications arising out of it not only impairs life of substance-dependent patient but also causes enormous burden on their caregivers. Little attention has been paid to the relationship between caregiver burden and substance use. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to assess and compare the quantum of burden on wives of alcohol and heroin-dependent patients and also to determine the correlation between sociodemographic factors and caregiver burden. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center of North India to compare burden on wives of alcohol and heroin dependent husbands. Burden was assessed using burden assessment schedule (Sell et al.). Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Wives of both alcohol and heroin dependent patients had moderate-to-high burden of caregiving (Score of 38.1 out of maximum 60), those of heroin dependent patients perceived more burden in the factors of "impact on marital relationship," "appreciation of caregiving," "impact on relation with others," and overall burden as compared to wives of alcohol-dependent patients. Significant negative correlation was found between "impact on marital relationship," "appreciation of caregiving," and "impact on relation with others" scores and patients' education status as well as between "appreciation of caregiving" score and wives' age where higher score denotes more burden. CONCLUSION: Significant burden exists on wives of substance-dependent patients; thus management plans must be devised aiming not only patients but also wives so as to reduce burden.

Quality of life of caregivers of early-onset psychosis and mentally retarded children: A Comparative study.

CONTEXT: In India, patients with mental illness and mental retardation (MR) are cared by their families. In caregiving, problems such as disturbance of routine, family leisure, family health, and emotional stress can have a negative impact on quality of life (QOL). AIMS: The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the QOL of the caregivers of children of early-onset psychosis (EOP) with caregivers of MR children and also to find out the correlation between sociodemographic variables and QOL. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective study was carried out in the outpatient and inpatient unit of a tertiary care center teaching hospital of North India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty caregivers each of two groups, i.e., children with EOP and mentally retardation, between the ages of 13 and 18 years with minimum 1 year of illness and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were compared with a well-matched control group. QOL was assessed using the World Health Organization QOL-BREF (Hindi version). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS (version 16.0). RESULTS: QOL was significantly affected in most of its dimensions in the caregivers of both EOP and MR groups in comparison to the control group but more deterioration was noted in caregivers of children with MR. Sociodemographic factors such as domicile, education, family type, and family size were important determinants of QOL. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors seem to be responsible for poor QOL of caregivers of children with MR and EOP.