Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti sergančiųjų 2 tipo diabetu su sveikata susijusios gyvenimo kokybės sąsajas su emocine įtampa ir psichotropinių medžiagų vartojimu. Tyrime iš viso dalyvavo 149 asmenys, sergantys 2 tipo diabetu (57 vyrai ir 92 moterys). 56 tiriamieji buvo iš diabeto klubų (37 – Marijampolės „Diabetikas ABC“ ir 28 – Jonavos „Ramunė“). Taip gavus prof. A. Goštauto leidimą, buvo naudoti 84 tiriamųjų duomenys, paimti iš archyvinių duomenų, surinktų iniciatyvinių tyrimų, atliktų 2009 m. KMU Endorinologijos klinikoje Diabetologijos skyriuje besigydančiais ligoniais sergančiais 2 tipo diabetu, metu. Tiriamieji užpildė Pasaulio sveikatos organizacijos su sveikata susijusios gyvenimo kokybės klausimyną (PSOGK-100). Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, sergantys 2 tipo diabetu vyrai ir moterys, patiriantys daugiau emocinės įtampos, savo su sveikata susijusią gyvenimo kokybę vertina prasčiau, nei patiriantys mažiau emocinės įtampos. Prastesni savo su sveikata susijusios gyvenimo kokybės vertinimai pastebėti ir rūkančių vyrų bei alkoholį vartojančių moterų grupėse. Tuo tarpu rūkančių moterų ir alkoholį vartojančių vyrų grupėse su sveikata susijusios gyvenimo kokybės įvertinimai yra geresni. Taip pat sergantys 2 tipo diabetu vyrai ir moterys, kurie rūko, patiria daugiau emocinės įtampos, nei tie, kurie nerūko ir atvirkščiai. Sergančių 2 tipo diabetu vyrų ir moterų, vartojančių ir nevartojančių alkoholio, tarp patiriamos emocinės įtampos statistiškai patikimų skirtumų nerasta. Sergančių 2... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study was to assess the relations between health-related quality of life, emotional tension and psychotropic substances consumption in people with type 2 diabetes. The subjects of the study were 149 people with type 2 diabetes (57 men and 92 women), 56 subjects were from diabetes clubs (37 from Marijampolė club „Diabetikas ABC“ and 28 from Jonava club „Ramunė“). Also after receiving permission from prof. A. Goštautas, 84 archival cases, which taken from KMU Endokrinology clinic Department of Diabetology‘s patiens with type 2 diabetes, was used in this study. The subjects completed World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-100). The results of the study showed that men and women with type 2 diabetes who reported more emotional tension rated their health-related quality of life poorer than those who reported less emotional tension. Though smoking men and alcohol consuming women rated their health-related quality of life poorer, smoking women and alcohol consuming men rated their health-related quality of life higher. Also smoking men and women with type 2 diabetes reported more emotional tension than non-smokers and vice versa. There were found no relations between emotional tension and alcohol consumption in both men and woman. Men with type 2 diabetes rated their health-related quality of life higher compared with women. Also more men than women were smokers and alcohol consumers. There were found no differences between men and women... [to full text]

Sammenfatning Baggrund og formål: Apopleksisygdommen er ansvarlig for flest tilfælde af invalidering blandt voksne i eget hjem. I Danmark alene lever godt 50.000 mennesker med følgerne efter apopleksi. En følge kan være reduceret evne til at kommunikere, afasi. Forebyggelse kan reducere antallet af nye tilfælde og følgerne efter sygdommen. Livskvalitet ved kronisk sygdom har voksende bevågenhed. Rehabilitering medvirker til at patienten kan blive fysisk, psykisk og socialt fungerende på et niveau, men sygdommens indvirken på oplevelsen af helbredsrelateret livskvalitet er i Danmark ikke undersøgt med sygdomsspecifikke instrumenter. Patienter med afasi udelukkes som regel fra undersøgelser, der kræver intakt tale og forståelse. Afhandlingens overordnede mål er at tilvejebringe et instrument, som kan anvendes til at måle helbredsrelateret livskvalitet efter apopleksi inkl. afasi. Metode og materiale: Afhandlingen har en kvantitativ tilgang. Et nordamerikansk instrument, Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, version 2.0, SSQOL © (copyright Linda S. Williams), er blevet oversat og kulturelt bearbejdet til dansk i overensstemmelse med anerkendt systematik i studie I. Instrumentet dækker med 49 items 12 domæner med fysisk, socialt og mentalt fokus samt 13 items, der dækker en vurdering af domænerne og livskvaliteten sammenlignet med før apopleksien. Instrumentets psykometriske egenskaber er blevet testet ved hjælp af tre studiepopulationer rekrutteret dels retrospektivt, dels konsekutivt. I studie II blev reliabilitet og validitet undersøgt, og i studie III responsivitet og sensitivitet. Afprøvningerne er foretaget med referenceformularer som eksterne kriterier i form af etablerede generiske skalaer. I studie IV er afprøvet en proxy-version tiltænkt patienter, som er ude af stand til selv at udfylde skemaet eller som ikke er i stand til at kommunikere tilstrækkeligt. Afprøvningen blev udført af en nærtstående udpeget af patienten. I studie V blev en gruppe let ramte patienter beskrevet, og variabler med betydningsfuld sammenhæng med oplevelsen af forringet helbredsrelateret livskvalitet blev undersøgt. Data er blevet testet ved hjælp af gennemsnit og standarddeviationer, median og range, proportioner, korrelationer og logistisk regression. Resultater: Den danske version af SSQOL, SSQOL-DK, har god face- og indholdsvaliditet. Det udfyldes på 10-20 minutter. Stabilitet, undersøgt med test-retest metode, viste korrelationer i området rs 0.65-0.99. Intern konsistens undersøgt med Cronbach’s alfa viste værdier i områderne 0.81-0.94 i studie II, 0.75-0.96 i studie III og 0.64-0.87 i studie V. Der blev set en ceiling effekt, 24-52%, men beskeden floor effekt. Begrebsvaliditet viste moderat delte varianser med de eksterne kriterier, r2 0.03-0.62. Konvergent validitet var (r) > 0.40 med undtagelse af et enkelt item. SSQOL-DK var i stand til at klassificere retning af ændring i livskvalitet over tid i overensstemmelse med eksterne kriterier i 43-58 % af tilfældene. Proxy-versionen viste god overensstemmelse mellem patient- og proxy data. I en gruppe af let ramte patienter med apopleksi og transcerebral iskæmi, TCI, et år efter sygdommen vurderede 57 % deres livskvalitet som uændret i forhold til før apopleksien. Det mandlige køn (OR 3.77), erhvervsaktivitet (OR 2.84), og lavere scores på domænerne Mood og Work ved tre måneder var covariater, som var signifikant relateret til sandsynligheden for at vurdere livskvaliteten forringet efter sygdommen. Konklusion: Der foreligger nu et dansksproget instrument, SSQOL-DK, som har demonstreret tilfredsstillende reliabilitet og validitet, og som kan anvendes på gruppeniveau til dansktalende patienter med let til moderat apopleksi. Apopleksipatienten med større kommunikationsproblemer har dog stadig begrænsede muligheder med dette instrument, idet de foreliggende resultater fra proxy-afprøvningen fordrer yderligere undersøgelse af datas validitet / Abstract Background and aim: Stroke is most frequently the cause of adult disability. In Denmark more than 50.000 people suffer from the sequels of stroke. One of them may be aphasia, i.e. reduced ability to communicate. Primary and secondary prevention may reduce the incidence and the severity of stroke. The interest in quality of life with a chronic disease is increasing. Rehabilitation efforts are targeted for physical, mental and social function but the impact on health related quality of life after stroke has not been studied with stroke specific instruments. Aphasic patients are normally excluded from studies where communicative skills are required. The aim of this thesis is to develop an instrument suitable for measuring health related quality of life after stroke. Methods and material: The design of the thesis is quantitative. In study I Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, version 2.0, SSQOL © (copyright Linda S. Williams), an American instrument recently developed, was translated and culturally adapted to Danish according to established guidelines. With 49 items SSQOL covers 12 domains comprising physical and mental issues. Thirteen items covers an appraisal of each domain compared to pre stroke status and overall quality of life. Psychometric properties was examined by studying three samples of stroke survivors. Study II and III examined reliability, validity and responsiveness. Established generic scales were used as external criteria. Study IV tested a proxy-version meant for stroke patients with language impairment or patients who are unable to fill in a questionnaire. The patients chose the proxies. Study V provided health related quality of life in a group of mildly affected patients after stroke or transient ischemic attack, TIA. Significant covariates with deteriorated health related quality of life were studied. Data were analyzed with mean and standard deviations, median and range, proportions correlations and logistic regression. Results: The Danish version of SSQOL, SSQOL-DK, showed good face- and content validity. It can be completed in less than 25 minutes. Test-retest showed correlations rs 0.65-0.99. Internal consistency showed Cronbach’s alpha from 0.81-0.94 in study II, 0.75-0.96 in study III and 0.64-0.87 in study V. Ceiling effect was 24-52%, floor-effect was modest. Construct validity showed shared variance with external criteria, r2 0.03-0.62. Convergent validity showed (r) >0.40 for 48 out of 49 items. SSQOL-DK classified direction of change in over all quality of life concordantly from 43-58% with external criteria. The agreement between patient- and proxy data was good. Fifty seven (57) percent of mildly affected patients after stroke or TIA rated their overall quality of life unchanged one year after stroke compared to pre stroke status. In the regression model male sex OR 3.77), working outside home (OR 2.84), and less than 5.00 (maximum score) on the domains Mood and Work/productivity at three months were significant predictors for rating over all quality of life deteriorated at 12 months. Conclusion: The SSQOL-DK has demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity and can be used on group level measuring health related quality of life among Danish survivors after mild to moderate stroke and TIA. Stroke survivors with severe communication problems are still limited as validity of the proxy data should be further tested

Around 30,000 people in Sweden suffer stroke every year, out of which about 12,000 end up with language difficulties, aphasia. Behind every person with aphasia there are significant others whose lives are also affected. Studies of how aphasia affects the health of these people are few. The overall aim of the present study was to examine how significant others of people with aphasia perceive their life situation, and how their quality of life is affected by the illness of their partner. Spouses of people with aphasia were contacted through aphasia groups and the Swedish Aphasia Association. A total of eleven people participated in the study, which consisted of the health survey SF-36 and semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that men, working people, and people at retirement age are at risk of having a lower health-related quality of life, by living with a person suffering from aphasia. Other factors that seemed to contribute to a lower quality of life were; a more severe aphasia, a big work load at home, less mutual activities as a couple, and a general decrease of communication in everyday life. The conclusion is therefore, that the health-related quality of life is at risk of becoming negatively affected by living with a person who suffers from aphasia. / Varje år insjuknar cirka 30 000 personer i stroke i Sverige och av dem drabbas cirka 12 000 av språkliga svårigheter i form av afasi. Bakom varje person med afasi finns det anhöriga, vars liv också påverkas. Hur afasin påverkar den anhöriges hälsa är inte väl studerat. Det övergripande syftet med föreliggande studie var därmed att undersöka hur anhöriga, till personer med afasi, uppfattar sin egen livssituation, samt hur deras livskvalitet påverkas av den närståendes sjukdom. Partner till personer med afasi kontaktades genom afasigrupper och afasiföreningar. Totalt valde elva personer att deltaga i studien, vilken bestod av hälsoenkäten SF-36 samt en semistrukturerad intervju. Resultaten pekade på att män, yrkesverksamma och personer i pensionsålder riskerar att få en lägre hälsorelaterad livskvalitet av att leva med någon med afasi. Övriga faktorer, som tycktes bidra till en lägre livskvalitet, var en svårare afasi, en hög börda i hemmet, färre gemensamma aktiviteter som par samt en generell försämring av kommunikationen i vardagen. Slutsatsen är därmed att den hälsorelaterade livskvaliteten riskerar att påverkas negativt av att leva med en person som drabbats av afasi.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD is a slowly progressive, inflammatory disease in the airways and lungs, caused mainly by smoking. The inflammation leads to a narrowing of the small airways (airway obstruction) and a destruction of tissue in the lungs. This gives a decreased expiratory airflow which leads to dyspnea, the primary symptom of the disease. The chronic airflow limitation also is associated with the development of limb muscle dysfunction. Decreases in both limb muscle strength and endurance have been shown which, in turn, is associated with exercise intolerance, one of the key disabling factors of the disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation including exercise training is the cornerstone of treatment and is strongly recommended. However, it is still unclear how to optimize exercise training for this group of patients. Also how to address the increase in dyspnea which limits the exercise stimulus, and how to assess muscular strength, need further study. Partitioning the exercising muscle mass, known as single limb exercises, is a novel exercise strategy aimed at reducing the negative consequences of chronic airflow limitation in patients with COPD. The aim of this thesis was to study the current evidence of single limb approaches in patients with COPD, to examine the feasibility and effects of a high-repetitive single limb exercise (HRSLE) regimen in patients with COPD and to examine whether elastic resistance could be used to evaluate muscular strength. This thesis is based on five papers. In order to study the evidence on single limb exercises, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed. The review showed that single limb exercises, performed as one-legged cycling appeared to be more effective than two-legged cycling with regard to exercise capacity but not dyspnea, and might be included in exercise programs for patients with COPD (Paper I). Thirty healthy older women and men participated in a validation study comparing elastic resistance maximal strength with isokinetic dynamometry measurements. Excellent levels of agreement and no differences between the two pieces of equipment were found which indicates that elastic resistance could be used to evaluate muscular strength (Paper II). A study protocol was created for a randomized controlled trial designed to identify the effects of HRSLE in combination with COPD-specific patient training (experimental group) in comparison to patient information alone (control group) (Paper III). HRSLE was performed as resistance training, using a single limb at a time, elastic bands as resistance and a high number of repetitions (25 repetitions in 2 sets) with the aim of increasing limb muscle endurance. After eight weeks of exercise, the differences between the groups were in favor of the experimental group on lower- and upper-extremity functional capacity, upper-extremity endurance capacity and muscular function. No differences were seen between the groups on endurance-cycle capacity or health-related quality of life (Paper IV). In patients with COPD, the HRSLE regimen was considered feasible with a high attendance rate, excellent compliance and high relative exercise intensity. No severe adverse events occurred. The physiotherapists conducting the HRSLE in the clinical setting also found it to be feasible (Paper V). This thesis shows that single limb exercises performed as one-legged cycling may be useful and effective for patients with COPD. Eight weeks of HRSLE was feasible and effective with regard to exercise capacity but without effect with regard to health-related quality of life. Elastic resistance could be used as exercise equipment to improve limb muscle function in patients with COPD and to evaluate muscular strength in healthy older adults. / Kroniskt obstruktiv lungsjukdom (KOL) är idag ett stort globalt problem.  KOL är en långsamt fortskridande inflammatorisk sjukdom i luftvägar och lungor, i huvudsak orsakad av cigarrettrökning. Inflammationen leder till en förträngning i de små luftvägarna och förstör vävnaden i lungorna. Detta medför en luftvägsobstruktion där flödet av luft vid utandning är minskat, vilket bidrar till varierande grad av andnöd hos patienten. Luftvägsobstruktionen är relaterad till försämrad muskelfunktion hos patientgruppen. Både nedsatt muskulär styrka och uthållighet har påvisats vilket är relaterat till ett av huvudproblemen vid KOL; nedsatt förmåga till fysisk aktivitet och träning.  Lungrehabilitering inklusive fysisk träning är centralt i behandlingen och starkt rekommenderat. Det är dock inte fastställt hur patientgruppen skall träna för att optimera effekterna av träningen eller hur träningen bäst kan utvärderas. Det är också oklart hur man skall hantera den successivt ökande andfåddheten vid träning. Träning med en arm eller ett ben i taget, så kallad lokal muskelträning är en strategi som syftar till att minska andnöd under träning hos patienter med KOL Syftet med denna avhandling var att undersöka vilken evidens det finns för lokal muskelträning hos patienter med KOL, utvärdera genomförbarhet och effekter av lokal högrepetitiv muskelträning utfört med elastiska träningsband hos patienter med KOL samt att undersöka ifall elastiska träningsband kan användas för att utvärdera muskelstyrka. Avhandlingen består av fem delstudier. För att undersöka evidens för lokal muskelträning genomfördes en systematisk litteraturgranskning av randomiserade kontrollerade studier. Granskningen visade att lokal muskelträning, i form av cykling med ett ben i taget kan vara effektivt, avseende fysisk förmåga, men utan effekt avseende andfåddhet för patienter med KOL (delstudie 1). Trettio friska kvinnor och män, deltog i en valideringsstudie där jämförelser gjordes mellan maximal kraftutveckling utfört med elastiska träningsband och en isokinetisk dynamometer. Ett högt samband mellan de två metoderna och ingen skillnad i maximal kraft, indikerade att elastiska band kan användas för att utvärdera muskelstyrka (delstudie 2). Ett studieprotokoll skapades för en randomiserad kontrollerad studie, som syftade till att undersöka effekterna av lokal högrepetitiv muskelträning i kombination med KOL-specifik patientutbildning (interventionsgrupp) jämfört med enbart KOL-specifik patientutbildning (kontrollgrupp) (delstudie 3). Lokal högrepetitiv muskelträning utfördes i grupp med elastiska träningsband som redskap. Övningarna genomfördes med en arm eller ett ben i taget med 25 repetitioner i 2 set med syfte att påverka muskulaturens uthållighet. Efter åtta veckors träning hade interventionsgruppen bättre muskelfunktion i både övre och nedre extremitet samt en bättre funktionell förmåga jämfört med kontrollgruppen. Inga skillnader i effekt sågs mellan grupperna avseende uthållighet vid test på ergometercykel eller avseende hälsorelaterade utfallsmått, såsom livskvalitet och tilltro till sin egen förmåga (delstudie 4). För patienter med KOL, visade sig lokal högrepetitiv muskelträning vara en genomförbar metod avseende följsamhet och närvaro i träningen. De fysioterapeuter som ledde träningen i klinisk verksamhet ansåg att den var möjlig att genomföra med hög relativ intensitet och utan allvarliga biverkningar (delstudie 5). Sammanfattningsvis visar denna avhandling att lokal muskelträning kan vara en användbar och effektiv metod för patienter med KOL. Åtta veckor med lokal högrepetitiv muskelträning är genomförbart och effektivt avseende fysisk förmåga hos dessa patienter. Elastiska träningsband kan användas som träningsredskap för att förbättra muskelfunktion hos patienter med KOL samt för att utvärdera muskelstyrka hos friska vuxna.

Bakgrund: Inflammatorisk tarmsjukdom (IBD) inkluderar ulcerös kolit och Crohns sjukdom. De är kroniska och uppkommer i skov då tarmslemhinnan blir inflammerad och sårig vilket ger en komplex symtombild med akuta diarréer, rektalblödning och buksmärtor. Behandlingen går ut på att minska symtom och förebygga uppkomst av skov. Då dessa sjukdomar påverkar det dagliga livet så påverkas också den individuella hälsorelaterade livskvaliteten, vilket mäter den fysiska, psykiska och sociala aspekten av ett hälsoproblem. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva upplevelsen av hälsorelaterad livskvalitet hos personer med inflammatorisk tarmsjukdom. Metod: En litteraturöversikt har gjorts där tolv vetenskapliga artiklar har utgjort grunden till resultatet och skapat en översikt på befintlig forskning. De har lästs, sammanfattats och analyserats där likheter och skillnader har hittats och teman bildats. Resultat: Resultatets fyra huvudteman är Fysisk funktion, Psykisk funktion, Social funktion och Att återställa sin livskvalitet. Det framkom i resultatet att de fysiska symtomen och sjukdomsaktiviteten är det som i huvudsak styr såväl det psykiska välmåendet som de sociala restriktionerna. Detta visade sig även ha en negativ inverkan på den hälsorelaterade livskvaliteten. Men med tiden blev dock sjukdomen en normal del av livet och en bättre livskvalitet upplevdes. Diskussion: Metodens tillvägagångssätt samt fördelar och nackdelar diskuteras och analyseras. Vid diskussion av resultatet tas främst kunskap, utbildning och tidsperspektivet upp samt återkopplas till Orems egenvårdsteori. / Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. They are chronic and occur in relapses when the mucosal becomes inflamed and ulcerated, causing complex symptoms such as acute diarrhoea, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms and prevent the occurrence of relapses. As these diseases affect the daily life it also affects the individual health-related quality of life, which measures the physical, psychological and social aspects of a health problem. Aim: The purpose was to describe the experience of health-related quality of life in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Method: A literature review has been done where twelve original articles have formed the basis of the results, this creates an overview of existing research. They have been read, summarized and analysed where the similarities and differences were found and themes were formed. Results: The four main themes of the result is Physical function, Psychological function, Social function and Rebuilding their quality of life. It emerged in the results that physical symptoms and disease activity are those which essentially controls the psychological well-being as well as social constraints. This was shown in studies to have a negative impact on the health-related quality of life. But overtime the disease became a normal part of one's life and gave a better quality of life experience. Discussions: The method approach, benefits and weaknesses will be discussed and analysed. When discussing the results of the current study mainly knowledge, education, and time perspective will be addressed and analysed with Orem’s self-care theory.

Darbo tikslas: Ištirti krūties vėžiu susirgusių Lietuvos moterų psichosocialinės pagalbos poreikius ir su sveikata susijusią gyvenimo kokybę. Uždaviniai: 1. Išanalizuoti sunkumus ir iššūkius, su kuriais susiduria krūties vėžiu susirgusios moterys; 2. Įvertinti moterų, susirgusių krūties vėžiu, nerimo ir depresijos simptomų raišką; 3. atskleisti psichologinės pagalbos poreikius ir nesinaudojimo ja priežastis. Išvados: 1. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad daugiausiai problemų respondentėms sukėlė pablogėjusi bendra sveikata ir emocinis funkcionavimas. Taip pat jas labiausiai vargino nuovargis, nemiga ir patiriami finansiniai sunkumai. 2. Nerimo ir depresijos būsenos būdingos daugumai krūties vėžiu susirgusių moterų. 88,7 % respondenčių išreiškė ribinius arba stiprius nerimo simptomus, 66,3 % - ribinius arba stiprius depresijos simptomus. 3. Psichologinės pagalbos poreikį jautė 20,1 % tiriamųjų. Tik kas trečia moteris, kuriai reikėjo psichologinės pagalbos, kreipėsi į šios srities specialistus. Daugiausiai moterų nurodė, kad pagalbos siekti trukdo ribotos finansinės galimybės ir informacijos stoka. / The aim of the paper: To assess the need of psychosocial support and health related quality of life in newly diagnosed women with breast cancer. Objectives: 1. To evaluate psychosocial issues and difficulties encountered by women newly diagnosed with breast cancer; 2. To analyse the expression of symptoms of anxiety and depression among women diagnosed with breast cancer;3. To determine the need for psychological support and the reasons for not making use of such support. Conclusions: 1. The results of the study revealed that the most problems for respondents were caused by impaired global health and emotional functioning. In addition, they were most affected by fatique, insomnia and financial difficulties. 2. 2. The results revealed that states of anxiety and depression are characteristic of most women diagnosed with breast cancer. 88.7 % of respondents experienced limited or strong symptoms of anxiety, 66.3 % experienced limited or strong symptoms of depression. 3. 3. The need for mental health assistance was felt by 20.1 % of those studied. Only one in three women who needed mental health assistance sought such assistance from mental health specialists. Women most often indicated that limited financial resources and a lack of information hindered them from seeking assistance.

Psychosocial factors affect the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) disease and development of complications. People with depression or anxiety symptoms have the activate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Thyroid hormone changes are also found in patients with CAD. Fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) depends not only on good physical health, but also on psychoemotional state, especially on the presence of depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, it is important to evaluate complex of hormonal markers and behavioral factors (depression, anxiety and fatigue) interaction on patients with CAD for quality of life, disease course and outcome. The aim of this study was examine relationship of cortisol and thyroid axis hormones concentrations with NT-pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations and with patient oriented outcomes such as depressive symptoms, fatigue and HRQoL in CAD patients. Study demonstrates relationship between thyroid axis hormones and cortisol concentrations with depression, anxiety symptoms, fatigue and HRQoL in CAD patients. Low T3, free T4 and higher RT3 concentrations are associated with higher NT-proBNP levels, depression symptoms, higher fatigue and worse HRQoL. Higher morning cortisol concentrations are associated with depression symptoms in women. The data obtained can be used in patients with coronary artery disease and depressive anxiety disorder, disease progression, and prognosis and quality of life... [to full text] / Psichosocialiniai veiksniai turi įtakos išeminės širdies ligos (IŠL) vystymuisi ir komplikacijų atsiradimui. Depresijos ir nerimo patogenezėje dalyvauja pagumburio-hipofizės-antinksčių ašis. Skydliaukės hormonų pokyčiai taip pat dažnai randami sergantiesiems IŠL bei depresija. Nuovargis ir su sveikata susijusi gyvenimo kokybė priklauso ne tik nuo geros fizinės sveikatos, bet ir nuo psichoemocinės būklės, todėl svarbu kompleksiškai įvertinti hormoninių žymenų ir elgesio veiksnių (depresijos, nerimo ir nuovargio) sąveikos įtaką sergančiųjų IŠL gyvenimo kokybei, ligos eigai bei baigtims. Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo išnagrinėti kortizolio ir skydliaukės ašies hormonų koncentracijų ryšį sergantiesiems IŠL su N-galinio smegenų tipo natriuretinio propeptido (NT-proBNP) koncentracija bei subjektyviomis sveikatos būklėmis: depresijos, nerimo simptomais, nuovargiu ir su sveikata susijusia gyvenimo kokybe. Tyrimas parodė skydliaukės hormonų ir kortizolio koncentracijų reikšmingą ryšį su subjektyviu sveikatos vertinimu sergantiesiems IŠL. Mažesnė bendrojo T3, laisvojo T4 ir didesnė reversinio T3 koncentracija susijusi su didesne NT-proBNP koncentracija, depresijos simptomų pasireiškimu, didesniu nuovargiu ir blogesniu su sveikata susijusios gyvenimo kokybės vertinimu. Didesnė rytinio kortizolio koncentracija susijusi su depresijos simptomų pasireiškimu moterims. Gauti duomenys gali būti panaudoti sergančiųjų IŠL depresijos bei nerimo simptomams, ligos eigai, prognozei ir gyvenimo kokybei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Nugaros skausmas gydomas taikant kompleksines reabilitacijos priemones, tačiau ir po jų taikymo kai kuriem pacientams išlieka vidutinio intensyvumo skausmas ir gyvenimo kokybė pagerėja ne visose srityse. Šio darbo tikslas yra nustatyti, kuriose sveikatos srityse po sėkmingo II reabilitacijos etapo įveikimo, išlieka tam tikri apribojimai ir nustatyti individualios kineziterapijos programos poveikį su sveikata susijusiai gyvenimo kokybei ir skausmo intensyvumui. / Back pain is treated through complex rehabilitation measures, however, some of health indicators remains unchanged. The goal of this study is to determine which health indicators remains impaired at the end of 2nd stage of rehabilitation, and to determine the effectiveness of individual physical therapy programme for quality of life and pain intensity.

Malgré un intérêt grandissant pour la question du devenir des survivants de tumeur cérébrale pédiatrique, l’évaluation de leur équilibre est souvent négligée. Les objectifs de nos travaux étaient de 1) examiner les écrits portant sur l’équilibre chez les survivants de tumeur cérébrale pédiatrique; 2) comparer l'équilibre debout et la qualité de vie entre les survivants et un groupe d’enfants témoins; et 3) examiner l'association entre l'équilibre debout et qualité de vie chez les survivants. Notre recension des écrits démontra que les survivants de tumeur cérébrale présentent des troubles de l’équilibre, mais les limites méthodologiques des études nous empêchent de conclure de manière définitive. Ensuite, nous avons recruté un groupe d’enfants survivants d’une tumeur cérébrale de la fosse postérieure et un groupe d’enfants sains. Leur équilibre était évalué à l’aide du Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd edition (BOT-2) et du Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Certains participants ont aussi été évalués avec une plate-forme de force où les limites de stabilité étaient documentées. Finalement, tous les enfants et leurs parents remplissaient le Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL4.0). Nos résultats démontrent que les survivants présentent une diminution de l’équilibre mise en évidence par le BOT-2, mais que leur qualité de vie est similaire aux enfants sains. La performance au BOT-2 est associée à la dimension physique du PedsQL4.0, suggérant une relation entre l’équilibre et la qualité de vie. Nos résultats suggèrent qu’une évaluation de l’équilibre pourrait être bénéfique chez cette clientèle afin de mieux cerner ses besoins de réadaptation. / There is growing interest in studying outcomes in survivors of pediatric brain tumours. Physical outcomes, especially balance abilities, are less investigated. Objectives of this thesis are to: 1) examine the literature for balance outcomes in survivors of pediatric brain tumours, 2) compare standing balance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between survivors of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumours (PFBT) and typically-developing controls and 3) explore the association between balance and HRQOL. A comprehensive review demonstrated that although the literature suggests that survivors of pediatric brain tumours display ongoing balance deficits, studies have limitations, emphasizing the need for further research. Survivors of pediatric PFBT and typically-developing children were recruited and their balance assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd edition (BOT-2) and Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Dynamic balance was also evaluated for some participants using a force platform. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory measured HRQOL. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests to compare results between groups and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to determine the association between balance and HRQOL. Balance abilities were significantly worse in survivors as measured by the BOT-2. The PBS displayed a ceiling effect. Certain laboratory outcome measures suggested balance difficulties. All participants’ HRQOL scores were within normative values. In survivors, an association was found between BOT-2 scores and the physical dimension of HRQOL. Survivors of PFBT demonstrate persistent balance difficulties, best assessed by the BOT-2; however, they report normal HRQOL. Future research should be collaborative and focus upon the best ways to manage balance deficits.

The purpose of this study was to understand the factors that encourage midlife women to make exercise and dietary changes, the prevalence of those changes, the process by which women make them, the factors that support or impede them, and how we can enhance women’s capacity to make health behaviour changes in midlife. Since the literature highlighted the importance of self-efficacy in changing health behaviour, and of health-related quality of life as a widely recognized measure of women’s mental and physical wellbeing, the study sought to understand the relationship between exercise and dietary self-efficacy, health behaviour change and health-related quality of life (SF-36), by testing a modified version of Bandura’s 1977 and 2002/2004b models of self-efficacy. The methodology involved postal surveys as well as semi-structured interviews with a subsample of the women who completed the survey. Surveys were sent to 866 women aged 51-66 years from rural and urban locations in Queensland, Australia. Five hundred and sixty-four (69%) were completed and returned. Survey data was analysed using descriptive and bivariate statistics and structural equation modeling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interviews. The results confirmed that midlife is a significant time for women to make positive health behaviour changes. Almost 40% of women made a change to their exercise and around 60% made a dietary change since turning 40. The main exercise change was doing more walking and the most common dietary change was reducing fat intake. Self-efficacy was shown to be a key influence on whether women made positive changes to their health in midlife. In the relationship between health behaviour change and health-related quality of life, making a positive change to exercise was significantly related to physical but not mental health, and making a dietary change was not related to either physical or mental health. Body mass index was shown to be an important influence on both self-efficacy and health-related quality of life (particularly physical health). Interviews were conducted with 29 of the participants. Interview data reinforced that the main motivations to make a positive health behaviour change among midlife women were being overweight, having an injury or being diagnosed with an illness or health condition. Witnessing the hardship experienced by others with a degenerative disease could also prompt a positive behaviour change. Successful changes mainly involved modifying existing practices and repeating new behaviours until they became part of the daily routine. The main facilitators of health behaviour change were having positive role models, having more time due to retirement, and having support from significant others (such as husbands), health professionals and organizations such as Weight Watchers. The main obstacles to making changes were work, care giving, illness and injury. Bandura’s (1977, 2000/2004b) model was partially supported, but the cross-sectional nature of the study may have been a limitation in demonstrating all aspects of the self-efficacy process. In summary, women are willing to make positive health behaviour changes in midlife, but they need education and support to have those changes be effective. It is anticipated that this research will lead to a greater understanding of the significance of midlife as a time for making healthy lifestyle changes that have the potential to improve women’s health and quality of life in later years.