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Introduction: Fear of cancer progression (FoP) is one of the most frequently reported unmet needs invoked by the majority of cancer patients, which may significantly impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The major objective of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the specificities of the relationship between different dimensions and intensity of FoP and different aspects of patients' QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. Methods: A nationwide sample of 330 participants completed a survey, including measures of demographic characteristics, medical variables, QoL, and FoP. Multivariate General Linear and Hierarchical Regression Models were conducted in order to assess the relationship between variables. Result: Our results indicate that less than a quarter of the sample experienced low, between 63 and 70% moderate, and 15% high levels of FoP. Our results also indicate that anxiety/worry related to the possibility of progression of the disease, and loss of independence produced significant differences with large effect sizes in all the dimensions of QoL. Discussion: Our results indicate that besides affective reactions, the fear of cancer survivors to lose independence, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, especially in the context of Romanian health system which has difficulties in offering qualitative psychosocial care for cancer patients. The idea that patients will have to rely on others and may not function well independently, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, next to the experienced affective reactions per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionFear of cancer progression (FoP) is one of the most frequently reported unmet needs invoked by the majority of cancer patients, which may significantly impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The major objective of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the specificities of the relationship between different dimensions and intensity of FoP and different aspects of patients’ QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania.MethodsA nationwide sample of 330 participants completed a survey, including measures of demographic characteristics, medical variables, QoL, and FoP. Multivariate General Linear and Hierarchical Regression Models were conducted in order to assess the relationship between variables.ResultOur results indicate that less than a quarter of the sample experienced low, between 63 and 70% moderate, and 15% high levels of FoP. Our results also indicate that anxiety/worry related to the possibility of progression of the disease, and loss of independence produced significant differences with large effect sizes in all the dimensions of QoL.DiscussionOur results indicate that besides affective reactions, the fear of cancer survivors to lose independence, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, especially in the context of Romanian health system which has difficulties in offering qualitative psychosocial care for cancer patients. The idea that patients will have to rely on others and may not function well independently, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, next to the experienced affective reactions per se.

Henk Verloo,1 Alexandre Salina,2 Assunta Fiorentino,3 Christine Cohen3 1School of Health, Department of Nursing Valais – Wallis, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Switzerland; 2Home Salem Nursing Home, Eben-Hézer Foundation, CH-1806 Saint-Légier, Switzerland; 3La Source, School of nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Switzerland Background: Identifying the objective and subjective aspects of the quality of life (QoL) of institutionalized cognitively impaired older adults (CIOAs) is a challenge. However, it can reveal which aspects of their care require improvement.Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the core aspects of the QoL of CIOAs living in a nursing home (NH) by involving informal and professional caregivers (PCs).Methods: Our sequential, mixed methods study exploring the QoL of CIOAs was based on Lodgson et al’s (2002) quantitative quality of life–Alzheimer’s disease (QoL-AD) questionnaire.75 Subsequently, a qualitative phase study analyzed perceptions and impressions of QoL using interviews of CIOAs and their most significant informal caregivers (SICs) and PCs.Results: Fifteen CIOAs, 12 SICs, and 2 PCs were recruited. Two-thirds of the older adults were females, overall average age was 86 years (SD=6.1), and all had a severe clinical dementia rating (CDR=3). A high level of comorbidity (measured using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics) was significantly associated with a lower QoL-AD score (P=0.046). Higher numbers of visits by SICs or family members had a positive effect on QoL-AD scores (P=0.036). No significant differences were found in overall QoL-AD scores as rated by CIOAs, SICs, and PCs (P=0.080). Combining quantitative and qualitative data analyses revealed four significant themes influencing the QoL of CIOAs: 1) human dignity and acceptance; 2) development and existence; 3) functionality and health; and 4) recognizability and safety.Conclusion: Sequentially using mixed methods proved an appropriate way to examine the QoL of severe CIOAs living in an NH, and these results were compared with the perceptions of informal and PCs. The factors optimizing overall health were visits by SICs and family members, and the major aspect that increases the QoL was freedom of movement inside and outside the NH. Keywords: content analysis, nursing homes, old age psychiatry, older adults, dementia, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, objective QoL, subjective QoL, functional QoL

This paper studies quality of life (QOL) in urban environment. The term environment has been used in broader sense, which includes physical, social and economic environment. A framework has been proposed which posits that QOL comprises objective condition of living and satisfaction from such living condition constitutes QOL. Such objective condition refers to objective QOL and satisfaction refers to subjective QOL. Dimension of QOL has been found to be multi dimensional. It has been found that both objective and subjective condition is important dimension of QOL. But correlation between objective and subjective QOL has been found not to be high. At the same time it has been found that satisfaction from condition of traffic is the lowest among all satisfaction variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Only a small number of studies have tried to identify factors influencing the subjective QoL of patients suffering from schizophrenia in a longitudinal design. These studies suffer from small clinical samples or compare baseline data only with a single follow-up. The European Schizophrenia Cohort Study overcomes these shortcomings by providing data from five time points on 1208 patients in psychiatric treatment in three European countries over a period of 2 years. QoL was measured with the brief version of Lehman''s Quality of Life Interview. Random effects, between-effects and within-effects regression models were computed in order to measure the influence on subjective QoL of patients'' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and objective QoL. Objective QoL scores were generally found to be related to the equivalent subjective QoL scores. People''s financial situation, and depressive and positive symptoms had a general effect on almost all subjective domains. The significant effects of objective finances on subjective domains like health and social relations raise interesting possibilities for intervention. Sufficient financial resources appear to be a necessary condition for achieving satisfactory QoL in schizophrenia patients. However, changes in individual''s characteristics and circumstances did not relate as strongly as expected to changes in QoL, suggesting effective intervention may be difficult. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper evaluated the quality of life (QOL) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and people from the general population. Gender differences between the 2 groups of respondents and the influence of coping style on adjustment were also evaluated. The participants were 381 (144 males, 237 females) people with MS, and 291 (101 males, 190 females) people from the general population. The results demonstrated that people with MS experienced lower levels of QOL than people from the general population for both the objective and subjective dimensions of all domains (physical health, psychological adjustment, social relationships, environmental adjustment). All coping strategies (problem-focused, focusing on the positive, detachment, wishful thinking, seeking social support) were important predictors of QOL for both males and females with MS, with wishful thinking being the strongest predictor of poor QOL. These results are discussed in terms of the various factors that impact on QOL among people with MS, and the types of coping strategies that are most adaptive in improving the QOL of people with this illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives　To develop and assess the reliability and validity of a scale measuring subjective quality of life (QOL), which encompasses the "strength and ability" to live positively through the three dimensions of biological life, everyday life, and overall course of life, in order to support QOL in older adults.Methods　We reviewed related literature and conducted interviews with patients with chronic diseases. Participants rated their QOL on a seven-point scale using the visual analog scale. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 100 older adults living in their own homes. The participants were between the ages of 70 and 84, and were recruited from comprehensive community support centers or from among hospital outpatients. We assessed scale reliability using Cronbach's α, item-total (I-T) correlation analysis, and calculation of α coefficient-if-item-deleted. We examined content validity by analyzing the content of the free response items. To evaluate construct validity, we carried out a hierarchical multiple regression analysis, examined the semantic content of the factors related to subjective QOL, and confirmed consistency with previous studies.Results　Regarding the reliability analysis of the scale, the α coefficient was 0.898, and both the I-T correlation and α coefficient-if-item-deleted exceeded the minimum value considered reliable. In examining content validity, the categories extracted for each of the three dimensions were found to demonstrate the characteristics of the general ideas of each dimension of QOL. Thus, the scale was confirmed to have overall content validity. As for the assessment of validity of its constitutive concepts, subjective QOL scores were significantly high among participants who had jobs, had role-related or financial capacity, used two or more nursing services, or scored high in perceived health competence, social networking, and sense of coherence (SOC). In addition, "meaningfulness" of SOC, and financial capacity had significant correlations with subjective QOL. These results are consistent with past research and therefore confirm construct validity.Conclusion　This study sufficiently confirmed the reliability and validity of the scale, and consequently its usability.

Aim: We aimed to investigate subjective quality of life (QOL) and related factors in elderly people with a high functional capacity using daycare centers who require support and mild long-term care., Methods: We collected data on the basic attributes, social background (hobbies, JST-Index of Competence), and subjective QOL (Revision PGC Morale Scale) through interviews with 238 people ≥65 years of age using daycare centers who required support and long-term care (level 1, 2). We conducted a t-test and χ 2 test to compare male and female participants and a multiple regression analysis using sex, age, hobbies, eating together, and the JST-Index of Competence (using new devices, collecting information, living management, social participation) as independent variables to predict the subjective QOL (dependent variable)., Results: We observed no marked differences in the subjective QOL between men and women, but a significant difference was noted between sexes in the number of people who ate with others. We conducted a multiple regression analysis using the above independent variables with the body mass index and level of care as explanatory variables and subjective QOL as a dependent variable to predict the value of the dependent variable. The subjective QOL tended to be higher in participants with high scores for social participation (standard partial regression coefficient 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.38), living management (0.23, 0.09-0.37), and hobbies (0.20, 0.09-0.32)., Conclusions: In elderly subjects with a high functional capacity, living management, social participation, and presence of hobbies were found to be associated with a decreased QOL.