Quality of life and productivity are two important measures in health outcomes that usually require the use of self-reported surveys for accurate assessment. Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been established as an important field in the past century, and many psychometrically validated instruments exist for both general and specific population use. Another health measure that has attracted a significant amount of attention in recent years, although there is no gold standard, is that of workforce productivity. Most productivity studies measure the amount of work loss incurred by employees in the form of absenteeism and presenteeism. A new survey that combines questions from existing HRQOL and workforce productivity surveys, the Health-Related Quality of Life and Work Productivity Questionnaire (HQWP), was constructed and tested using a descriptive, cross-sectional study of faculty and staff at a major research university. As expected, HRQOL and work loss were found to be negatively correlated. In addition, staff were found to have statistically higher levels of absenteeism than faculty, but faculty had higher levels of presenteeism. Using multivariate regression models on several measures of productivity, including both absenteeism and presenteeism, we concluded that mental health measures were stronger predictors of productivity than physical health measures for our overall sample, as well as faculty and staff groups separately. In addition, those who work extra hours to make up for lost production had significantly lower social function scores compared to those who do not. Other statistical analyses performed include PCA factor analyses on presenteeism covariates. Lastly, we performed economics analyses on the cost savings that could be achieved through health management programs to reduce absenteeism and presenteeism levels. A better understanding of reasons for absenteeism and presenteeism could help inform targeted workplace programs to reduce employer indirect costs related to lost productivity. Moreover, such programs could reduce rates of turnover due to increased employee satisfaction, as well as improve both quantity and quality of life years.

Doctor of philosophy (PhD) / Abstract As one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, Australia has a high proportion of minority communities. However, its ageing population, particularly within these ethnic minorities, faces a range of barriers or difficulties in gaining access to and using health and aged care services. This study aims to identify the acculturation factors that affect the health status of Iranian-born elderly immigrants to Australia and their utilisation of health and community aged care services. The results of this study will be of value to Iranian elders, their families, and Australian aged health care service providers. The findings could also contribute towards enriched multicultural policy and improved social fairness, access to services, and equity for the aged from different ethnic backgrounds. 302 Iranian migrants aged 65 years who had lived in the Sydney Metropolitan area for at least six months were surveyed via a written questionnaire, face-to-face interviews, and telephone interviews. The results were analysed using SPSS and then compared to the findings from a 1999 survey of NSW elderly. The results indicate that Iranian migrants suffer higher levels of psychological distress and are more limited in their physical functioning than the general population of older Australians. They are in greater need of assistance with activities of daily living, have a lower sense of wellbeing, and are far less likely to utilise aged care services. Iranian migrant who do not speak English at home experience these disadvantages to an even greater extent English language proficiency was the only acculturation factor found to affect whether Iranian elderly utilised health and community aged care services, while ability to engage in activities of daily living (ADL) was the only health variable associated with their utilisation of community supportive aged care services. This variable did not predict the use of community aged care services in the broader sample of NSW respondents. Since limited proficiency in English placed elderly Iranian migrants at greater health risk and impeded their access to necessary assistance, the findings suggest that they would clearly benefit from English classes and from access to health and community care services and information regarding these services in the Farsi language.

Objetivos: validar versões em português do Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) para avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes brasileiros com cardiopatia isquêmica. Métodos: estudo transversal com instrumentos traduzidos e aplicados em dois grupos: em 200 pacientes ambulatoriais com cardiopatia isquêmica estável em dois momentos, com intervalo de 14 dias; e em 50 pacientes antes e 30 dias após a angioplastia. Classe funcional foi avaliada pelo Specific Activity Scale. Testes de correlação intraclasse, Cronbach α e Wilcoxon foram utilizados. Resultados: os participantes dos dois grupos apresentaram características clínicodemográficas semelhantes, sendo a taxa de resposta de 78% e 76% no reteste. Reprodutibilidade dos instrumentos (coeficiente α de Cronbach) variou de 0,70 a 0,90 e 0,62 a 0,79 para os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, respectivamente. Estabilidade dos instrumentos em 14 dias (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse) foi >0,68 e >0,49 para os domínios do SF-36 e SAQ. No quesito responsividade, o SF-36 demonstrou melhora nos domínios capacidade funcional (10,5), dor (16,5), vitalidade (13,5), aspecto social (10,1) e saúde mental (9,8); e no SAQ, nos domínios estabilidade (41,1) e freqüência (27,3) da angina e percepção da doença (12,0). Os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, exceto um, foram consistentemente relacionados à classe funcional. Conclusão: as versões traduzidas dos instrumentos mostraram desempenho adequado sem diferenças entre si, sugerindo serem reprodutíveis, responsivas e válidas para a avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica no Brasil. / Objectives: To validate Portuguese-language versions of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for the evaluation of quality of life in Brazilian patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study using instruments translated and applied to two groups: 200 outpatients with stable ischemic cardiomyopathy at two points in time- 14-day interval; and 50 patients pre and 30 days post angioplasty. Functional class was evaluated by the Specific Activity Scale. Intra-class correlation, Cronbach’s alpha and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The participants in both groups presented similar clinical-demographic characteristics, and the rate of response in the retest was 78% and 76%. Reproducibility of the instruments (Cronbach alpha coefficient) varied from 0.70 to 0.90 and 0.62 to 0.79 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains, respectively. Stability of instruments in 14 days (intraclass correlation coefficient) was ≥0.68 and ≥0.49 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains. For the responsiveness item, SF-36 showed improvement in the domains physical functioning (10.5), bodily pain (16.5), vitality (13.5), social functioning (10.1) and mental health (9.8); and in SAQ in those concerning stability (41.1) and frequency (27.3) of angina and disease perception (12.0). The SF-36 and SAQ domains except one were consistently related to functional class. Conclusion: The translated versions of the instruments showed an adequate performance without differences amongst them, suggesting that they are reproducible, responsive and valid to evaluate quality of life in ischemic heart disease patients in Brazil.

Objetivos: validar versões em português do Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) para avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes brasileiros com cardiopatia isquêmica. Métodos: estudo transversal com instrumentos traduzidos e aplicados em dois grupos: em 200 pacientes ambulatoriais com cardiopatia isquêmica estável em dois momentos, com intervalo de 14 dias; e em 50 pacientes antes e 30 dias após a angioplastia. Classe funcional foi avaliada pelo Specific Activity Scale. Testes de correlação intraclasse, Cronbach α e Wilcoxon foram utilizados. Resultados: os participantes dos dois grupos apresentaram características clínicodemográficas semelhantes, sendo a taxa de resposta de 78% e 76% no reteste. Reprodutibilidade dos instrumentos (coeficiente α de Cronbach) variou de 0,70 a 0,90 e 0,62 a 0,79 para os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, respectivamente. Estabilidade dos instrumentos em 14 dias (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse) foi >0,68 e >0,49 para os domínios do SF-36 e SAQ. No quesito responsividade, o SF-36 demonstrou melhora nos domínios capacidade funcional (10,5), dor (16,5), vitalidade (13,5), aspecto social (10,1) e saúde mental (9,8); e no SAQ, nos domínios estabilidade (41,1) e freqüência (27,3) da angina e percepção da doença (12,0). Os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, exceto um, foram consistentemente relacionados à classe funcional. Conclusão: as versões traduzidas dos instrumentos mostraram desempenho adequado sem diferenças entre si, sugerindo serem reprodutíveis, responsivas e válidas para a avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica no Brasil. / Objectives: To validate Portuguese-language versions of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for the evaluation of quality of life in Brazilian patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study using instruments translated and applied to two groups: 200 outpatients with stable ischemic cardiomyopathy at two points in time- 14-day interval; and 50 patients pre and 30 days post angioplasty. Functional class was evaluated by the Specific Activity Scale. Intra-class correlation, Cronbach’s alpha and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The participants in both groups presented similar clinical-demographic characteristics, and the rate of response in the retest was 78% and 76%. Reproducibility of the instruments (Cronbach alpha coefficient) varied from 0.70 to 0.90 and 0.62 to 0.79 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains, respectively. Stability of instruments in 14 days (intraclass correlation coefficient) was ≥0.68 and ≥0.49 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains. For the responsiveness item, SF-36 showed improvement in the domains physical functioning (10.5), bodily pain (16.5), vitality (13.5), social functioning (10.1) and mental health (9.8); and in SAQ in those concerning stability (41.1) and frequency (27.3) of angina and disease perception (12.0). The SF-36 and SAQ domains except one were consistently related to functional class. Conclusion: The translated versions of the instruments showed an adequate performance without differences amongst them, suggesting that they are reproducible, responsive and valid to evaluate quality of life in ischemic heart disease patients in Brazil.

Objetivos: validar versões em português do Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) para avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes brasileiros com cardiopatia isquêmica. Métodos: estudo transversal com instrumentos traduzidos e aplicados em dois grupos: em 200 pacientes ambulatoriais com cardiopatia isquêmica estável em dois momentos, com intervalo de 14 dias; e em 50 pacientes antes e 30 dias após a angioplastia. Classe funcional foi avaliada pelo Specific Activity Scale. Testes de correlação intraclasse, Cronbach α e Wilcoxon foram utilizados. Resultados: os participantes dos dois grupos apresentaram características clínicodemográficas semelhantes, sendo a taxa de resposta de 78% e 76% no reteste. Reprodutibilidade dos instrumentos (coeficiente α de Cronbach) variou de 0,70 a 0,90 e 0,62 a 0,79 para os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, respectivamente. Estabilidade dos instrumentos em 14 dias (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse) foi >0,68 e >0,49 para os domínios do SF-36 e SAQ. No quesito responsividade, o SF-36 demonstrou melhora nos domínios capacidade funcional (10,5), dor (16,5), vitalidade (13,5), aspecto social (10,1) e saúde mental (9,8); e no SAQ, nos domínios estabilidade (41,1) e freqüência (27,3) da angina e percepção da doença (12,0). Os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, exceto um, foram consistentemente relacionados à classe funcional. Conclusão: as versões traduzidas dos instrumentos mostraram desempenho adequado sem diferenças entre si, sugerindo serem reprodutíveis, responsivas e válidas para a avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica no Brasil. / Objectives: To validate Portuguese-language versions of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for the evaluation of quality of life in Brazilian patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study using instruments translated and applied to two groups: 200 outpatients with stable ischemic cardiomyopathy at two points in time- 14-day interval; and 50 patients pre and 30 days post angioplasty. Functional class was evaluated by the Specific Activity Scale. Intra-class correlation, Cronbach’s alpha and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The participants in both groups presented similar clinical-demographic characteristics, and the rate of response in the retest was 78% and 76%. Reproducibility of the instruments (Cronbach alpha coefficient) varied from 0.70 to 0.90 and 0.62 to 0.79 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains, respectively. Stability of instruments in 14 days (intraclass correlation coefficient) was ≥0.68 and ≥0.49 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains. For the responsiveness item, SF-36 showed improvement in the domains physical functioning (10.5), bodily pain (16.5), vitality (13.5), social functioning (10.1) and mental health (9.8); and in SAQ in those concerning stability (41.1) and frequency (27.3) of angina and disease perception (12.0). The SF-36 and SAQ domains except one were consistently related to functional class. Conclusion: The translated versions of the instruments showed an adequate performance without differences amongst them, suggesting that they are reproducible, responsive and valid to evaluate quality of life in ischemic heart disease patients in Brazil.

Orientadores: Roberta Cunha Matheus Rodrigues, Wilson Nadruz Junior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T04:09:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Palhares_LucianaCampanatti_D.pdf: 1907109 bytes, checksum: d72b4310b06e406eda299edf5d572b62 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Dispnéia é um sintoma freqüente entre pacientes hipertensos e tem impacto negativo sobre a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS). O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as correlações entre função ventricular esquerda (FVE), dispnéia e QVRS em pacientes hipertensos, sem insuficiência cardíaca. Noventa e oito sujeitos foram avaliados quanto à caracterização clínica, antropometria, pressão arterial, variáveis metabólicas e inflamatórias, Doppler tecidual e ecocardiografia convencional. A QVRS foi mensurada com o ¿Short Form¿ SF-36. Pacientes com dispnéia apresentaram maiores índices de massa corpórea (IMC), níveis mais elevados de proteína-C reativa, menor tempo de escolaridade e escores de QVRS significativamente mais baixos na maioria dos domínios do SF-36, em comparação com aqueles sem dispnéia. Não foram observadas diferenças nos parâmetros funcionais da FVE entre os subgrupos, embora os pacientes com dispnéia tenham apresentado maiores índices de massa e hipertrofia de ventrículo esquerdo (HVE). A análise de correlação parcial, ajustada para idade, sexo e IMC, mostrou correlação positiva entre a FVE sistólica e diastólica e o item de transição de saúde, no grupo sem dispnéia. Por outro lado, pacientes com dispnéia apresentaram correlações positivas e de maior magnitude entre os padrões de FVE sistólica e diastólica e os domínios de QVRS, bem como correlações negativas entre massa VE e diâmetro diastólica final de ventrículo esquerdo e QVRS. Concluindo, os resultados sugerem que dispnéia pode ser um marcador de pior QVRS em hipertensos que não preenchem todos os critérios para o diagnóstico de insuficiência cardíaca e um limiar para o desenvolvimento de relações significativas entre o desempenho da FVE e QVRS nestes pacientes / Abstract: Dyspnea is a frequent symptom in hypertensive patients and negatively impacts on health related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this report is to verify the correlations between left ventricular (LV) function, dyspnea and HRQL in hypertensive patients without overt heart failure. Ninety eight patients not fulfilling criteria for systolic or diastolic heart failure were evaluated by medical history, anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, dosage of metabolic and inflammatory parameters as well as conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. HRQL was assessed by the Short Form SF-36. Patients experiencing dyspnea presented higher body mass index, increased C-Reactive Proteins levels, fewer years of schooling and significant lower scores of HRQL in most of the SF-36 domains in comparison to patients with no breathlessness. No significant differences were observed on LV functional parameters between the subgroups, although dyspnea patients presented increased LV mass index and more LV hypertrophy. Partial correlation analyses adjusted for age, sex and body mass index revealed a direct correlation between systolic and diastolic parameters and the Health Transition Item in the group without dyspnea. Conversely, patients with dyspnea displayed stronger direct relationships between systolic and diastolic function and quality of life domains as well as inverse correlations between LV mass and LV end-diastolic diameter and HRQL. Overall, these results suggest that dyspnea might be a valuable marker of worse quality of life in hypertensive not fulfilling criteria for heart failure and a threshold to the development of significant relationship between LV performance and HRQL in such patients / Doutorado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Doutor em Ciências Médicas

In Deutschland ist eine zunehmende Kinderlosigkeit zu beklagen (Statistisches Bundesamt 2009). Die Ursachen hierfür werden primär vor dem Hintergrund der Unvereinbarkeit von Berufstätigkeit und Mutterschaft diskutiert (Schrupp 2008). Aus lerntheoretischer Perspektive wären subjektiv empfundene gesundheitliche Ein-schränkungen von Frauen nach der Geburt eines Kindes als weitere Ursache denkbar. Über die subjektiven Gesundheitseinschätzungen von Frauen im geburtshilflichen Kontext ist jedoch nur wenig bekannt. Vereinzelt finden sich Hinweise, dass Frauen ihre subjektive Gesundheit (SGH) nach der Geburt ihres Kindes trotz bestehender Morbidität sehr positiv bewerten (Bauer 2011, Schytt et al. 2005, Borrmann 2005). Ziel der Studie ist es die subjektive Morbidität, die SGH sowie die gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität (GHLQ) gesunder Frauen acht Wochen und sechs Monate nach der Geburt eines Kindes zu erfassen und die Faktoren zu ermitteln, die sich beeinflussend auf SGH und GHLQ auswirken. Methode: Retrospektive, longitudinale Kohortenstudie. Basis der Sekundäranalyse bilden Daten von 1029 Erst- und Mehrgebärenden, die im Rahmen einer multizentrisch angelegten, prospektiven Interventionsstudie zum Versorgungskonzept Hebammenkreißsaal an der Hochschule Osnabrück unter Förderung des Bundesministeri-ums für Bildung und Forschung (FKZ 01 GT 0616) zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt (t0) sowie acht Wochen (t1) und sechs Monate (t2) nach der Geburt erhoben wurden. Zur Ermittlung der SGH wurde der SF-1 angewendet. Die Operationalisierung der GHLQ erfolgte über die standardisierte körperliche und die standardisierte psychische Summenskala des SF-36. Ergebnisse: Gut die Hälfte der Studienteilnehmerinnen bewertete ihre SGH zu t1 und t2 besser als gut, wobei Erstgebärende gegenüber Mehrgebärenden signifikant häufiger diese positive Einschätzung vornahmen (p<.007). Neben einer Reihe von Faktoren, die in keinem unmittelbaren Zusammenhang mit der Geburt stehen, zeigten sich geburtsspezifische Aspekte als signifikante Einflussgrößen. In der Gruppe der Erstgebärenden er-höhte sich bei Vorliegen geburtsverletzungsbedingter Beschwerden die Chance auf eine beeinträchtigte SGH zu t1 signifikant (OR 1.68, [95% KI 1.04-2.71]; p=.035). In der Gruppe der Mehrgebärenden erwies sich ein nega-tives Geburtserleben zu t2 als signifikante Einflussgröße für eine beeinträchtigte SGH (OR 7.66, [95% KI 2.17-26.99]; p=.002). Hinsichtlich der GHLQ konnten ebenfalls geburtsspezifische Aspekte als Einflussgrößen ermit-telt werden. Zu t1 erhöhten in der Gruppe der Erstgebärenden geburtsverletzungsbedingte Beschwerden die Chance auf eine verminderte GHLQ um fast das Dreifache (OR 2.83, [95% KI 1.63-4.93]; p<.001). Ein negati-ves Geburtserleben verdoppelte die Chance auf eine verminderte GHLQ in dieser Gruppe (OR 2.09, [95% KI 1.19-3.65]; p=.010). In der Gruppe der Mehrgebärenden zeigte sich das negative Geburtserleben ebenfalls als signifikante Einflussgröße (OR 3.93, [95% KI 1.14-13.53]; p=.030). Dies allerdings erst zu t2. Insgesamt konn-ten in einzelnen Subskalen des SF-36 signifikante Abweichungen zwischen der landes-, alters- und geschlechts-spezifischen Normstichprobe und dem Studiensample festgestellt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Geburtsverletzungsbedingte Beschwerden und ein negatives Geburtserleben beeinflussen die SGH und GHLQ nachhaltig. Mit dem Anspruch einer qualitativ hochwertigen geburtshilflichen Versorgung gilt es die subjektiven Gesundheitseinschätzungen von Frauen nach der Geburt eines Kindes standardisiert zu evalu-ieren. Um Ceiling-effekte zu vermeiden müssen die in anderen Bereichen bisher üblichen Erhebungsverfahren für den geburtshilflichen Kontext modifiziert werden

This thesis describes patients in acute postoperative pain as well as patients with acute cancer-related pain in palliative care, and their experiences and perceptions of pain management in relation to HRQOL and the multidimensionality of pain. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was chosen. Data were collected using interviews and questionnaires; APS, SF:36 and a new developed questionnaire PC-PPQ measuring care related to pain management in palliative care. For assessing pain VAS and Pain-o-Meter were used. The study group consisted of 100 patients on their second postoperative day, and of 75 patients with cancer-related pain from two palliative care teams. The result showed that at the time of the interview 29 of the patients with postoperative pain reported a pain &gt; 3 on VAS and 79 reported VAS &gt; 3 as worst pain past 24 hours. The higher the intensity of pain the less satisfied the postoperative patients were with the nurses´ way of treating their pain. Thirty-three patients stated that they had received information regarding the importance of pain relief. Patients with postoperative pain as well as patients with cancer-related pain had been prescribed analgesics mostly a combination of Paracetamol, NSAID and opioid. Of the 75 patients with cancer-related pain and in palliative care 22 patients reported pain &gt;3 on POM-VAS and 47 patients reported &gt;3 on POM-VAS as worst pain past 24 hours. Twenty-eight patients reported an average pain &gt; 3 on POM-VAS past 24 hours. Twenty-four patients used the words troublesome or tiring when describing their affective pain. Sensory pain was described as prickling or sore by 15 patients. The patients perceived their pain as “aching all over” and expressed a wish for pain relief as well as a fear for increased pain. HRQOL especially physical functioning decreased for patients with average pain &gt; 3. Being cared for by a nurseled or a physician-led palliative care team indicated no statistically significant differences for patients´ HRQOL or pain intensities. The patients had experienced a statistically significant better care after being referred to a palliative care team, despite that pain control had not been optimized. Patients expressed a need for communication, planning and trust in order to improve pain management. Continuity of care and the opportunity to talk increase the patients feeling of security, as well as improved their perceived pain control. Structured ongoing discussion concerning pain management from an early stage of the disease or already preoperatively can provide an important intervention to meet the results of this thesis. Pain assessment covering the multidimensionality of pain, and pain treatment plans including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment are further important interventions.

Quality of life (QOL) is an extremely important concept in the promotion of appropriate and successful health care programmes. However, there is a need for conceptual clarity to unravel the complexities of terminology in different medical conditions and the underlying factors that have a direct influence on the quality of life for people with coronary heart disease. The primary objective of this thesis is to propose a theoretical model which specifies the domains of QOL and the interrelationships among these domains. The objectives of the study are four-fold: (1) To examine whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme has a beneficial effect on cardiac heart disease patients; (2) To evaluate the primary components of generic health-related quality of life assessment tools for people with coronary heart disease; (3) To identify the main factors governing disease-specific health-related quality of life assessment tools amongst patients with coronary heart disease; (4) To examine a variety of conceptual models of QOL and to determine their relevance to cardiac patients. First, in order to provide conceptual clarity, a comprehensive review of QOL measures was undertaken. Second, data was collected on a cardiac rehabilitation programme in a county hospital using Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Quality of Life for Myocardial Infarction (QLMI) instruments. This data was analysed using a number of techniques including (l)meta-analysis; (2)discriminant analysis; (3)factor analysis and (4)structural equation modelling. Analysing the data in this way enabled the development and clarification of the specific domains of the quality of life model. Meta-analysis involved pooling the results of several studies, these were then analysed to provide a systematic, quantitative review of the data. The results found that the related studies did not have consistent outcomes to support the positive effects of a cardiac exercise rehabilitation programme on quality of life in coronary patients. Findings from the SF-36 indicate that older people with coronary heart disease gain more pain relief than their younger counterparts. After a cardiac exercise rehabilitation progranune, statistically significant improvements occurred in physical function, social function, role limitation/physical, energy/vitality, body pain, and change in health-related dimensions of quality of life. The first-order five domains model includes the symptom domain, the restriction domain, the confidence domain, the self-esteem domain and the emotion domain. This model represents an appropriate model of quality of life for people with coronary heart disease compared to the three-domain model and the four-domain model. In terms of the second-order QOL model, the five-domain model also has an adequate fit to the data. According to the result of structural equation modelling, three models, including the null model, the alternative model I and the alternative model n, did not fit the data perfectly. However, the construct of full latent variable model gradually increased the fit statistics from the null model to the alternative model I and from the null model to alternative model n. Therefore, it can be concluded that the paths and indicators of the three models need to be further adjusted in order to provide a more appropriate model. Nevertheless, this is a first trial to examine a full model of quality of life for people with coronary heart disease using the structural equation analyses. As such, this study provides a new approach to examining the difference between empirical studies and theoretical approaches.

D.L. A 790-2008