Background: Disease-specific patient-based questionnaires are being used increasingly to evaluate treatment outcomes in coronary heart disease (CHD) from the patient's perspective. However, most have been developed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in medically rather than surgically treated patients and many have not been rigorously evaluated against required standards. There are currently no validated questionnaires to measure patient- based outcomes after coronary revascularisation, the surgical treatment for CHD. Objectives: To develop a new patient-based instrument, the Coronary Revascularisation Outcome Questionnaire (CROQ), to measure health outcomes and HRQoL before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). To evaluate the psychometric properties of the CROQ using classical psychometric methods. Design: Psychometric study. Subjects: A total of 725 (79% male) patients undergoing CABG and 643 (71% male) patients undergoing PTCA at three hospitals in the UK. Methods: Qualitative methods (literature review, review of existing instruments, patient interviews, and expert opinion) were used to develop two versions of the eROQ (CROQ-CABG and CROQ-PTCA). Two field tests were then conducted by postal survey to patients before and 3-months after revascularisation firstly, to identify possible items for elimination (item reduction) and secondly, to evaluate the psychometric properties (reliability, validity, responsiveness) of the item- reduced CROa in independent samples. Results: The CROQ was acceptable to patients, satisfied tests of scaling assumptions, showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness. 4 Conclusions: The CROQ is a new l psychometrically rigorous patient-based measure of outcome for coronary revascularisation. The CROQ has many potential uses in evaluative research l such as in clinical trials of effectiveness I and as a routine clinical audit tool to assist providers of CABG and PTCA in monitoring the outcomes of care

Abstract IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE FINANCING PROGRAMS ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES By: Amy Nicole Dye Davis This study investigated the effect of assistive technologies purchased through Alternative Financing Programs (AFP) for individuals with disabilities on quality of life, independence in the home and community, and employment. In fiscal year 2000, AFPs received federal grants under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (after it was repealed and renamed the AT Act) to provide financial loans to persons with disabilities to enable them to purchase assistive technologies (AT). In fiscal year 2002, Congress appropriated funds to support grants to increase access to telework for individuals with disabilities. There are 33 AFPs located across the U.S. and territories that use said funding to provide alternative financing for persons with disabilities so that the aforementioned opportunities are possible. This study also examined telework, defined as a way to reduce or eliminate barriers to employment or self-employment. Telework, irrespective of the circumstance or initial motivation, has the potential to circumvent the need to navigate the traditional workplace. As a result, telework could raise the standards for equality in the job market for persons with disabilities. An examination of AFP clients delineated loan acceptance and rejection rates, goals for acquiring assistive technologies, and employment outcomes for said individuals with disabilities. Determining the reasons why AFP clients needed assistive technology and how they planned to use it defined predictors to successful employment outcomes. Finally, the overall effectiveness of the AFPs with respect to increasing quality of life, independence, and employment rates for persons with disabilities was assessed. Examining employment outcomes as they are linked to public policy is puissant and a connection not previously pursued. This study found statistically significant associations between quality of life and employment in that persons with disabilities who were AFP applicants reported a higher quality of life if they were employed. Also found, was a statistically significant association between quality of life and independence levels in that persons with disabilities who reported increased independence at home or in the community also reported having a better quality of life.

Improving family quality of life is an important goal when working with families of children with autism. Researchers have attempted to measure changes by developing indices of quality such as affect, stress, and confidence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a group parent-coaching program on measures aimed at addressing quality: a) parent confidence, stress and affect ratings; b) child affect ratings; c) the frequency of coordinated joint attention (CJA); and d) parent report of satisfaction and efficacy. Over the course of four weeks, the coaching program involved group presentations, discussions, video sharing, and problem solving, and individual in-vivo coaching sessions regarding specific child skill development. Results from the five parent-child dyads suggested increases in areas associated with quality of life. Results are discussed in the context of quality themes and mixed methods research.

A research report submitted to the faculty of health sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of medicine in family medicine October 2017 / MT2018

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

This study addressed gaps in the literature regarding the lack of information about the degree and extent of the relationships among symptom burden, specific symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The sample included 89 adults receiving care for colorectal cancer in an outpatient setting. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected over a four month period using the Modified Ambulatory Care Flow Sheet (MACFS), the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist- Modified, numerical rating scales for pain and coping, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30. Results showed that the MACFS was reasonably valid and internally consistent and that symptom burden and number of symptoms were significantly abut weakly correlated with HRQL. Specific symptoms most significantly correlated with HRQL were insomnia, fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting. Findings support the use of the MACFS to assess symptoms and HRQL in the study population.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-54).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Daniel R. Boroto, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Apr. 8, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.