Heartburn and regurgitation have different impacts on life quality of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM: To investigate the impact of heartburn and regurgitation on the quality of life among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

2010 World Expo and Urban Life Quality in Shanghai in Terms of Sustainable Development

Based on sustainable development theory and the UN's Human Development Index, this thesis puts forward what the quality of urban life implies, makes a study of the world Expo's potential influences on the urban life of Shanghai and advances the strategy and measures to strengthen the life-quality-facing urban

Evaluation of Life Quality and Dyspnea Intensity on Chronic Airway Diseases Patients in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are chronic airway diseases that cause considerable physical, emotional and social restrictions. The life quality of patients who suffer from these diseases, is more affected by dyspnea then by other symptoms. That way is possible to correlate the impact of dyspnea on their life quality. The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) helps to improve the physical fitness and quality of life. This paper presents a study of the life quality and the dyspnea intensity in chronic lung disease patients. The research has participation of fourteen patients, distributed as seven suffering from COPD and the other seven suffering from asthma, for both gender and with an age average of 74.2 ± 8.9. The patients answer the following questionnaires: Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI), Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea Scale, Airways Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) and the Brazilian version of the Short-Form (SF-36) life quality questionnaire. From the present study, it was concluded that asthma patients have a less impaired life quality, since the dyspnea intensity is lesser, compared to the one with COPD.

Building a Comprehensive Well-off Society in Yunnan＇s Minority Areas A Study of the Prediction on the Differences in Life Quality Indexes

Based on the gray theory and GM （1, 1） model, the life quality indexes in next few years are predicted using the statistical data of the life quality indexes of Yunnan＇ s 8 minority areas in recent years and also compared with the standard value （2020） of building the national well-off society, and the differences between them are measured and calculated. Thus, effective reference information is provided for the decision-making of government.

Analysis of the Impact of City Transport on Life Quality in the City of Szczecin

This paper looks at public transport in the city of Szczecin.In the recent years,new means of transport have been offered by both external companies and the city.Many city inhabitants have swapped buses for city bikes,scooters and electric scooters available in large cities.A questionnaire survey has been designed to examine the public opinion on the best transport services offered by external companies and whether life quality in the city has improved owing to a wide offering of means of public transport.The paper aims at an analysis and assessment of the city transport services offered and how they influence the quality of life in the city of Szczecin.

Effect of self-management on lower urinary tract symptoms and life quality of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of self-management to improve the lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS) and life quality in benign prostatic

Age-related symptom and life quality changes in women with irritable bowel syndrome

AIM:To explore age-related changes in symptoms and quality of life(QoL) of women with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS).METHODS:Two-hundred and fifty-four female adult outpatients with IBS attending the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January,2008 and October,2008 were approached.Patients with a history of abdominal surgery,mental illness or those who had recently taken psychotropic drugs were excluded.A physician obtained demographic and abdominal symptom data.All patients were asked to complete the Zung Self-Rated Anxiety and Depression Scale(SDS/SAS) and the IBS-specific QoL questionnaire.The patients were divided into six groups according to age,in 10-year increments:18-27 years,28-37 years,38-47 years,48-57 years,58-67 years and 68-75 years(maximum 75 years).Age-related differences of abdominal pain or discomfort were analyzed using ranksum tests.Differences in SDS/SAS and IBS-QoL scores between age groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.Pearson's correlations evaluated potential associations between IBS symptoms,psychological factors and QoL in each age group.RESULTS:There were no differences in the distribution of IBS subtypes between age groups(χ2 = 20.516,P = 0.153).Differences in the severity of abdominal pain/discomfort with age were statistically significant(χ2 = 25.638,P < 0.001);patients aged 48-57 years,58-67 years or 68-75 years had milder abdominal pain/discomfort than those in the younger age groups.The severity of anxiety or depressive symptoms did not differ between age groups(SDS,χ2 = 390.845,P = 0.110;SAS,χ 2 = 360.071,P = 0.220).Differences of IBSQoL scores were statistically significant between age groups(χ2 = 1098.458,P = 0.011).The scores of patients in the 48-57-year group were lower than those in the 18-27-year and 28-37-year groups(48-57-year group vs 18-27-year group,74.88 ± 8.76 vs 79.76 ± 8.63,P = 0.021;48-57-year group vs 28-37-year group,74.88 ± 8.76 vs 79.04 ± 8.32,P = 0.014).The scores in the 68-75-year group were lower than those in the 18-27-year,28-37-year and 38-47-year groups(68-75-year group vs 18-27-year group,71.98 ± 9.83 vs 79.76 ± 8.63,P = 0.003;68-75-year group vs 28-37-year group,71.98 ± 9.83 vs 79.04 ± 8.32,P = 0.002;68-75-year group vs 38-47-year group,71.98 ± 9.83 vs 76.44 ± 8.15,P = 0.039).Anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with QoL in all age groups(SDS and QoL:18-27-year group,r =-0.562,P = 0.005;28-37-year group,r =-0.540,P < 0.001;38-47-year group,r =-0.775,P < 0.001;48-57-year group,r =-0.445,P = 0.001;58-67-year group,r =-0.692,P < 0.001;68-75-year group,r =-0.732,P < 0.001.SAS and QoL:18-27-year group,r =-0.600,P = 0.002;28-37-year group,r =-0.511,P < 0.001;38-47-year group,r =-0.675,P < 0.001;48-57-year group,r =-0.558,58-67-year group,P = 0.001;r =-0.588,P < 0.001;68-75-year group,r =-0.811,P < 0.001).A negative correlation between abdominal pain severity and QoL was found in patients aged more than 58 years(58-67-year group,r =-0.366,P = 0.017;68-75-year group,r =-0.448,P = 0.048),but not in younger patients(18-27-year group,r = 0.080,P = 0.716;28-37-year group,r =-0.063,P = 0.679;38-47-year group,r =-0.029,P = 0.812;48-57-year group,r =-0.022,P = 0.876).CONCLUSION:Factors affecting QoL should always be treated in IBS,especially emotional problems in young adults.Even mild abdominal pain should be controlled in elderly patients.

Standards Ensure Basic Life Quality and Safety

October 14th will be an important day for all of our colleagues engaged in standardization.The theme of the 2008 World Standards Day is'Intelli-gent and sustainable buildings'.The requirements for urban residential developments are rising daily,accompanied by increasing public awareness

The Effect of Respiratory Rehabilitation Training on the Life Quality of Pneumoconiosis Patients

Objective:To explore the effect of respiratory rehabilitation training on the quality of life of pneumoconiosis patients.Methods:76 pneumoconiosis patients who were treated in our hospital from April 2017 to December 2019 were selected as the research object,and randomly divided into 2 groups according to the order of admission by coin tossing,38 cases in each group.The control group carried out health knowledge education on the basis of conventiona1 treatment,and the observation group combined with respiratory rehabilitation training on the basis of the control group to compare the quality of life and lung function of the two groups of patients.Results:After 2 months of nursing care,scores of GQOLI-74 scale and pulmonary ventilation function indexes in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion:Respiratory rehabilitation training can improve pulmonary ventilation function of pneumoconiosis patients,improve the quality of life of patients,has good clinical application value.

Investigation of the quality of life,mental status in patients with gynecological cancer and its influencing factors

BACKGROUND Having a gynecological tumor or undergoing treatment can be a traumatic experience for women,as it affects their self-image and sexual relationships and can lead to psychological reactions.Psychological adjustment following cancer occurrence remains a key issue among the survivors.AIM To examine the current status of quality of life(QoL),anxiety,and depression in patients with gynecological cancer and to analyze the factors associated with it.METHODS Data for 160 patients with gynecological malignancies treated at Shanxi Bethune Hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Patients’QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Questionnaire.Their emotional status was evaluated using the Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale.The associated factors of anxiety and depression were analyzed.RESULTS The overall QoL score of the patients 6 months after surgery was 76.39±3.63 points.This included low levels of social and emotional function and severe fatigue and pain.The scores for physiological,functional,emotional,social,and family well-being exhibited an upward trend following surgery compared with those before surgery.One month after surgery,some patients experienced anxiety and depression,with an incidence of 18.75%and 18.13%,respectively.Logistic analysis revealed that good sleep was a protective factor against anxiety and depression in patients with gynecological tumors,whereas physical pain was a risk factor.CONCLUSION Patients with gynecological malignancies often experience anxiety and depression.By analyzing the factors that affect patients’QoL,effective nursing measures can be administered.

Effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life in preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis

AIM:To evaluate the effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life(HRQoL)of preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis(CEL).METHODS:A prospective self-controlled study was conducted in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.Children aged from 5 to 7y whom were diagnosed with CEL and underwent phacoemulsification with scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and their parents were enrolled in this study.All of them completed the child and proxy(parental)PedsQL™4.0 before and after the surgery.Their preoperative scores were compared to their postoperative ones.Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender and preoperative bilateral presenting visual acuity of the children.RESULTS:Thirty-two children with CEL successfully underwent surgery without any complications,among whom 8 had monocular surgery and 24 had binocular surgery.Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were completed by 32 child-parent pairs.Surgical intervention could significantly improve the vision of affected children(P<0.001).The medians of physical,psychosocial and total health scores self-reported by the children were 68.75(62.50,81.25),65.00(60.00,80.00)and 67.39(60.87,78.26)preoperatively and were 93.75(87.50,100.00),90.00(83.33,96.67)and 89.13(85.32,95.65)postoperatively.The preoperative scores of the affected children were significantly lower in all scales than age-matched healthy children(P<0.001).All the postoperative scores were significantly higher than the preoperative scores in affected children and their parents(P<0.001).In the physical functioning evaluation,the preoperative score reported by parents of girls was higher than parents of boys(P=0.041),and the postoperative score of girls was higher than that of boys(P=0.036).CONCLUSION:CEL is associated with significantly worse quality of life in preschool children.Surgical intervention can significantly improve the HRQoL in affected children from both personal and family perspective.

Effect of comprehensive nursing on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke(IS)is a widely recognized disease characterized by high preva-lence,mortality,morbidity,disability,and recurrence rates.It ranks prominently in terms of mortality,constituting 60%-80%of stroke cases.AIM To explore the impact of comprehensive nursing care on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with IS.METHODS This study comprised 172 patients with IS admitted to our hospital between February 2018 to March 2021.The participants were divided into two groups,namely the control group(n=80)receiving routine care and the research group(n=92)receiving comprehensive care.Various assessment scales,including the standard swallowing function assessment scale(SSA),National Institutes of Health Stroke scale(NIHSS),European stroke scale(ESS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),Barthel index(BI),and the motor func-tion assessment scale(MAS),were employed to evaluate the improvement in swallowing function,neurological deficits,clinical outcomes,anxiety,depression,daily living activities,and motor function before and after care.Furthermore,the study compared the occurrence of adverse reactions during the nursing period,life quality before and after the intervention,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction between the two groups.RESULTS After the nursing intervention,the research group exhibited significantly improved SSA and NIHSS scores compared to the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,both groups demonstrated significant reductions in SAS and SDS scores(P<0.05),with the research group showing more obvious advantages(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the research group displayed significantly better ESS,BI,and MAS scores(P<0.05),coupled with a lower incidence of adverse reactions(P<0.05).Additionally,the research group demonstrated markedly higher levels of life quality,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Comprehensive nursing effectively improved swallowing function,quality of life,and patient satisfaction,high-lighting its clinical significance.

Analysis of factors impacting postoperative pain and quality of life in patients with mixed hemorrhoids:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids are among the most common and frequently encountered chronic anorectal diseases in anorectal surgery.They are venous clusters formed by con-gestion,expansion,and flexion of the venous plexus in the lower part of the rec-tum.Mixed hemorrhoids bleed easily and recurrently,and this can result in severe anemia.Hence,they may have a negative effect on the health of the patient and surgical treatment is required.Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy has been widely used since 1937 for the treatment of grade III and IV hemorrhoids.How-ever,most patients experience different degrees of postoperative pain that may cause anxiety.with mixed hemorrhoids post-surgery.METHODS The clinical data of patients with mixed hemorrhoids who underwent Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy were collected retrospectively.The basic character-istics of the enrolled patients with mixed hemorrhoids were recorded,and based on the Goligher clinical grading system,the hemorrhoids were classified as grades III or IV.The endpoint of this study was the disappearance of pain in all patients.Quantitative data were presented as mean±SD,such as age,pain score,and QoL score.Student’s t-test was used to compare the groups.RESULTS A total of 164 patients were enrolled.The distribution of the visual analog scale pain scores of all patients at 3,7,14 and 28 d after surgery showed that post-surgery pain was significantly reduced with the passage of time.Fourteen days after the operation,the pain had completely disappeared in some patients.Twenty-eight days after the surgery,none of the patients experienced any pain.Comparing the World Health Or-ganization Quality of Life-BREF self-reporting questionnaire scores of patients between 14 and 28 d after surgery,we observed that the quality-of-life scores of the patients post-surgery had significantly improved.There were six items that were compared at 14-and 28-d post-surgery.The mean QoL score 28 d after surgery(4.79±0.46)was higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(3.79±0.57).The mean health condition score 28 d after surgery(4.80±0.41)was also higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(4.01±0.62).The mean physical health score 28 d after surgery(32.10±2.96)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(23.41±2.85).The mean psychological health score 28 d after surgery(27.22±1.62)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(21.37±1.70).The mean social relations score 28 d after surgery(12.21±1.59)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(6.32±1.66).The mean surrounding environment score 28 d after surgery(37.13±2.88)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(28.42±2.86).The differences in quality-of-life scores at day 14 and day 28 post-surgery were ob-served to be statistically significant(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy can significantly improve the postoperative QoL of patients.Age,sex,and the number of surgical resections were important factors influencing Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.

Resilient water quality management: Insights from Japan's environmental quality standards for conserving aquatic life framework

Currently,chemicals and waste are recognized as key drivers of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in aquatic ecosystems.To ensure vibrant habitats for aquatic species and maintain a sustainable aquatic food supply system,Japan promulgated its Environmental Quality Standards for the Conservation of Aquatic Life(EQS-CAL),based on its own aquatic life water quality criteria(ALWQC)derivation method and application mechanism.Here we overview Japan's EQS-CAL framework and highlight their best practices by examining the framework systems and related policies.Key experiences from Japan's EQS-CAL system include:(1)Classifying six types of aquatic organisms according to their adaptability to habitat status;(2)Using a risk-based chemical screening system for three groups of chemical pollutants;(3)Recommending a five-step method for determining ALWQC values based on the most sensitive life stage of the most sensitive species;(4)Applying site-specific implementation mechanisms through a series of Plan-Do-Check-Act loops.This paper offers scientific references for other jurisdictions,aiding in the development of more resilient ALWQC systems that can maintain healthy environments for aquatic life and potentially mitigate ongoing threats to human societies and global aquatic biodiversity.

Analysis of the Nursing Effect of Continuity of Care on Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Unstable Angina and its Impact on Quality of Life

Objective:To analyze the effect of using continuity of care for elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)with unstable angina pectoris(UAP)and its impact on their quality of life.Methods:100 cases of elderly patients with CHD with UAP admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to March 2023 were selected and grouped into an observation group and a control group of 50 cases each according to the randomized number table method.The nursing effect and quality of life of the observation group(continuity nursing)and the control group(routine nursing)were compared.Results:The total effective rate of nursing care was 96.00%observation group and 80.00%for the control group,and the differences were significant(χ2=6.061,P<0.05).Patients in the observation group had fewer episodes(1.42±0.21)times/week and a shorter duration(5.46±0.39)min,which were better than the control group(t=3.465,2.973;P<0.05).The depression self-rating depression scale(SDS)score(42.16±6.64)and anxiety self-rating scale(SAS)score(32.26±7.35)in the observation group were lower and the quality of life was higher as compared to that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Continuous nursing care improved the nursing effect of elderly CHD with UAP patients,promoted the alleviation of UAP symptoms,improved patient mentality,and improved their quality of life.Hence,continuous nursing care possesses significant clinical application value.

Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide,leading to morbidity and mortality.Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)have therapeutic benefits,including improved postoperative quality of life(QoL)and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome.In this article,we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions.Preoperative health status,age,length of intensive care unit stay,operative risk,type of procedure,and other pre-,intra-,and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL.Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery,but it improves in the following period.CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term.Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity,QoL,and frailty following cardiac surgery.

Quality of life after pancreatic surgery

BACKGROUND Pancreatic surgery is challenging owing to the anatomical characteristics of the pancreas.Increasing attention has been paid to changes in quality of life(QOL)after pancreatic surgery.AIM To summarize and analyze current research results on QOL after pancreatic surgery.METHODS A systematic search of the literature available on PubMed and EMBASE was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Relevant studies were identified by screening the references of retrieved articles.Studies on patients’QOL after pancreatic surgery published after January 1,2012,were included.These included prospective and retrospective studies on patients'QOL after several types of pancreatic surgeries.The results of these primary studies were summarized inductively.RESULTS A total of 45 articles were included in the study,of which 13 were related to pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD),seven to duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection(DPPHR),nine to distal pancreatectomy(DP),two to central pancre-atectomy(CP),and 14 to total pancreatectomy(TP).Some studies showed that 3-6 months were needed for QOL recovery after PD,whereas others showed that 6-12 months was more accurate.Although TP and PD had similar influences on QOL,patients needed longer to recover to preoperative or baseline levels after TP.The QOL was better after DPPHR than PD.However,the superiority of the QOL between patients who underwent CP and PD remains controversial.The decrease in exocrine and endocrine functions postoperatively was the main factor affecting the QOL.Minimally invasive surgery could improve patients’QOL in the early Core Tip:This review summarizes and analyzes current research results on quality of life(QOL)after pancreatic surgery.The article covers the discussion and analysis of the QOL of various pancreatic surgeries.Which kind of surgical procedure has better QOL is controversial.The long-term benefits on QOL of minimally invasive surgery over open surgery are contro-INTRODUCTION The pancreas,located in the retroperitoneum,is a glandular organ with endocrine and exocrine functions.It can be divided into four main parts:Head,neck,body,and tail.Pancreatic surgery can be divided into pancreaticoduoden-ectomy(PD),duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection(DPPHR),distal pancreatectomy(DP),central pancre-atectomy(CP),and total pancreatectomy(TP).Pancreatic surgery is challenging due to the organ’s complex anatomical structure,peripheral vascularity,and intractable postoperative complications.Following the standardization of surgical steps and improvements in relevant medical techniques and surgical instruments,the safety of pancreatic surgery has significantly improved.Perioperative morbidity,mortality,and other related indicators have become more acceptable.However,owing to the organ’s essential role in digestion,absorption,and blood glucose regulation,changes in the quality of life(QOL)of patients after pancreatic surgery have attracted the attention of surgeons.More patients with non-malignant pancreatic diseases are willing to undergo surgical treatment because of the acceptable safety.In this case,from the perspective of the patient postoperatively,the significance of rehabilitation reflects the traditional perioperative outcome and QOL[1].The QOL is a new concept that extends beyond health.Although there is no consensus on its conception[2],we can consider it a multi-dimensional architecture that incorporates objective and individual subjective views of aspects of one’s physical,psychological,and social well-being[3-5].It includes evaluating physical health,and many subscales,such as emotion,job,culture,family,sociability,economy,cognition,happiness,sex,and some symptoms[6].Since people have realized the importance of QOL,many QOL scales have emerged,including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30,European Quality of Life 5-dimension,36-item Short,etc.However,it is challenging to follow up on patients’QOL once they are discharged from the hospital.Consequently,most relevant studies had small sample sizes or lacked long-term follow-up results.Moreover,a summary of studies on QOL after pancreatic surgery is lacking.This study assessed the QOL in patients who underwent PD,DPPHR,DP,CP and TP.We conducted this study to describe the existing findings on the QOL after pancreatic surgery to make it easier for surgeons and patients to decide on a surgical approach.In addition,we attempted to identify controversial results to encourage further targeted research.

A new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves patients’postoperative quality of life

Objective Laparoscopic surgery has become a routine general surgery with many advantages,such as alleviating abdominal pain.However,postoperative pain caused by abdominal drainage tubes has attracted little attention from medical staff.The aim of this study was to explore the influence of a new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)on patients’postoperative quality of life.Methods Patients who underwent 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Linyi People’s Hospital from March 1,2023 to October 31,2023 due to gallstones with chronic cholecystitis were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group.In the experimental group,the new abdominal drainage tube fixation method was used,while in the control group,the traditional method was used.Afterward,the quality of life of patient in terms of pain,activity,recovery time,and mental health status was evaluated.The exudate around the patient’s drainage tube was collected for bacterial culture and analysis.Results A total of 139 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group(70 patients)and a control group(69 patients).The patients’baseline characteristics were not significantly different.The patients in the experimental group had better outcomes in quality of life,with higher pain scores(24.03±2.37 vs.15.48±2.29,p<0.001)and activity scores(20.57±1.78 vs.14.13±1.43,p<0.001),and a shorter postoperative recovery time(2.36±0.68 d vs.2.96±1.34 d,p<0.001).The same results were shown in linear regression analysis scores of the 2 groups.The positive rate of bacterial culture in the exudate around the patient’s drainage tube in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(12.9%vs.43.5%,p<0.001);and furthermore,the positive rate of conditional pathogenic bacteria was even lower(7.1%vs.33.3%,p<0.001)in the experimental group than in the control group.Conclusion This new abdominal drainage tube fixation method can effectively promote patient rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for patient following 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes.

Processus pour le développement d’une stratégie d’évaluation de la qualitéde vie en cancer avancépédiatrique Process for Developing a Quality of Life Assessment Strategy in Advanced Pediatric Cancer

In pediatric advanced cancer,i.e.,when cancer-targeted treatments are not effective,care provided to patients is of palliative nature.It aims at limiting symptoms and optimizing quality of life(QoL).To orient care,it is necessary to know and measure what is really important for young people.Unfortunately,tools are still scarce in this context.The aim of this paper is to describe the development process of a new QoL assessment method,the Advance QoL program.This is specifically designed for the clinical context of pediatric advanced cancer.Three previous studies carried out by our team identified seven important QoL domains for this population.We developed a tool named Advance QoL—parent/caregiver version.A current study aims to develop self-reported versions of the Advance QoL for children(8-12 years)and adolescents(13-18 years)with advanced cancer.In the very near future,the Advance QoL tool will be available in three versions(parents/caregivers,children,and adolescents)ready to be tested in validation studies.Regular assessment of the QoL of young people with cancer is a central process in defining targets for care and should be carried out throughout the trajectory,including when cancer is at an advanced stage,i.e.,when no standard treatment options are available.

Benefit in physical function and quality of life to nonsurgical treatment of varicose veins: Pilot study

BACKGROUND Studies on varicose veins have focused its effects on physical function;however,whether nonsurgical treatments alter muscle oxygenation or physical function remains unclear.Moreover,the differences in such functions between individuals with varicose veins and healthy individuals remain unclear.AIM To investigate changes in physical function and the quality of life(QOL)following nonsurgical treatment of patients with varicose veins and determine the changes in their muscle oxygenation during activity.METHODS We enrolled 37 participants(those with varicose veins,n=17;healthy individuals,n=20).We performed the following measurements pre-and post-nonsurgical treatment in the varicose vein patients and healthy individuals:Calf muscle oxygenation during the two-minute step test,open eyes one-leg stance,30 s sit-to-stand test,visual analog scale(VAS)for pain,Pittsburgh sleep quality index,physical activity assessment,and QOL assessment.RESULTS Varicose veins patients and healthy individuals differ in most variables(physical function,sleep quality,and QOL).Varicose veins patients showed significant differences between pre-and post-nonsurgical treatment—results in the 30 sit-to-stand test[14.41(2.45)to 16.35(4.11),P=0.018],two-minute step test[162.29(25.98)to 170.65(23.80),P=0.037],VAS for pain[5.35(1.90)to 3.88(1.73),P=0.004],and QOL[39.34(19.98)to 26.69(17.02),P=0.005];however,no significant difference was observed for muscle oxygenation.CONCLUSION Nonsurgical treatment improved lower extremity function and QOL in varicose veins patients,bringing their condition close to that of healthy individuals.Future studies should include patients with severe varicose veins requiring surgery to confirm our findings.