Objectives. To compare four diverse approaches to measuring patient perceptions about health outcomes; the SF-36 Health Survey; clinically derived condition specific instruments; daily time trade-off (DTTO); patient generated index (PGI). The relationship between the instruments and their responsiveness to changes in Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) was assessed. Results. The response rate exceeded 75% (1327 respondents). The SF-36 had Cronbach's Alpha values above the criterion of 0.7. Test-retest estimates were above 0.7 for al but the role-limitations scales which were above the criterion of 0.5. The specific instruments produced Alpha values and test-retest estimates above 0.7. The DTTO and PGI produced estimates of reliability above 0.5. Evidence for the construct validity of the SF-36 was demonstrated by the differences in scale scores between the general population and four condition-specific groups. Evidence for the construct validity of the specific instruments and PGI was demonstrated by the significant moderate levels of correlation with the SF-36. Evidence for the validity of all four approaches was demonstrated by patient scores behaving as predicted in relation to condition-specific and sociodemographic variables. Comparisons of the four approaches show that the relationship between them is condition dependent. Score changes for the SF-36, specific instruments and PGI were significantly related to self reported health transition. The SRMs for the specific instruments were significantly greater than those for the SF-36. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that the SF-36 has similar properties in United Kingdom patient populations as those in the United States and is satisfactory for comparisons of groups. The clinically derived approach is recommended for constructing instruments where no suitable condition-specific instrument exists. These two approaches are recommended for use as part of a package of instruments for assessing health outcomes.

Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2001. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 16, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-105).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Theoretical foundation Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranks among the most serious diseases in the population. The COPD prevalence is assumed at up to 7,7%. As the name shows, it is a chronic disease characteristic with typical symptoms including particularly cough, expectoration and noticeable dyspnoea. The symptoms may get worse above their common level in the course of the disease, which we call exacerbation. The presence of unpleasant breathing problems affects different life areas, restricting the individual when performing everyday activities. The patient's psyche is affected as well, including potential incidence of anxieties or depressions. Finally, the patient's subjectively perceived quality of life is significantly worsened. Goal of the thesis The goal of this thesis is to ascertain the areas in which COPD affects the quality of life. Hypotheses H1: COPD patients feel breathing problems. H2: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of common daily activities. H3: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of physical activity. H4: COPD patients feel restrictions in social sphere. H5: COPD patients experience negative feelings. H6: COPD patients perceive their quality of life as bad. Methodology The research investigation was implemented based on quantitative inquiry within the grant Project No. 120/2012/S "Reflection of life quality in nursing". The data collection was performed under use of quantitative method; the research investigation took place with the help of questionnaire technology. Two questionnaires were used: St. George's Respiratory Questionare Czech (SGRQ) and WHOQOL 100 generic standardized questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to persons with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The selection set was made up through quota selection that was observed. The quotas consisted in COPD diagnosis and the respondents' gender. The proportion of men and women was specified at 500 persons, 294 men and 206 women from that number. The research set consisted of 296 men and 207 women, i.e. 503 respondents in total. The investigation took place through addressing general practitioners, specialized outpatients' departments and chest disease wards. Results The results were processed with the help of the SASD program (statistic analysis of social data). The results can be divided into three groups. The first group includes the results characterizing the structure of the research set; the second group includes the graphically represented results, and the third group includes the results processed with the help of descriptive statistics. The last two groups include results from both questionnaires used. The results allowed us obtaining information on perception of breathing problems by the patients, on the sphere of common daily activities, on problems in the sphere of movement, on social sphere, on experiencing of negative feelings and on subjective perception of quality of life. Based on the results, the hypotheses were evaluated as follows: H1: COPD patients feel breathing problems confirmed, H2: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of common daily activities - confirmed, H3: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of physical activity not confirmed, H4: COPD patients feel restrictions in social sphere - not confirmed, H5: COPD patients experience negative feelings confirmed, and H6: COPD patients perceive their quality of life as bad - not confirmed. Conclusion The thesis provides comprehensive view of the spheres affecting the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It may be used not only for nurses but also for the whole multidisciplinary team caring for the patient. The thesis may be used also as study material for nursing students. The results of the research investigation will be further presented at conferences and published in professional journals.

Långvarig, icke-malign smärta är ett utbrett problem och påverkar många aspekter i livet. Behandling av långvarig smärta är komplext och kräver ett samarbete mellan flera professioner för att uppnå god effekt. Sjuksköterskor har en viktig roll i att stödja och delaktiggöra patienten i att hitta strategier för att bibehålla god livskvalitet.  Syftet var att beskriva patienters upplevelse av hur livskvaliteten påverkas vid långvarig smärta. Litteraturstudien utgår från en induktiv ansats med tio vetenskapliga originalartiklar i resultatet, samtliga artiklar har kvalitativ ansats. Innehållet i artiklarna har analyserats och granskats enligt innehållsanalys och tillslut bildat tre teman: psykisk påverkan, förändrad självbild och begränsade sociala kontakter. Resultatet visar att personers upplevelse av påverkan på livskvalitet vid långvarig smärta är starkt sammankopplat med sociala kontakter, strategier för smärthantering och stöd från anhöriga. Personer med långvarig smärta upplever ofta psykisk påverkan och förändrad självbild, samt begränsade sociala kontakter. Det sociala stödet är av betydande roll för personer med smärta och direkt avgörande för hur personerna hanterar och lever med smärta. / Chronic, non malign pain is a wide problem and affects many aspects in life. The treatment of chronic pain is complex and requires a collaboration between several professionals to achieve good effects. Nurses have an important role in supporting and engaging the patient in finding strategies to maintain good quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe people's experiences of how quality of life is affected in the case of chronic pain. This literature study is based on an inductive approach with ten original articles in the result, all articles have a qualitative approach. The content of the articles has been analyzed and reviewed according to content analysis, and formed three themes: psychological impact, altered self-image and limited social contacts. The result shows that people’s experiences of the impact on quality of life in the case of chronic pain is strongly linked to limited social contacts, pain management and support from relatives. People with chronic pain often experience psychological impact and altered self-image, as well as impaired social contacts. Social support is important for people with chronic pain and directly determines how people both handle and live with pain.

(v AJ) Introduction to the topic and importance of the topic: Aortic valve disease is the third most frequent cardiovascular disease and also the most frequently operated valvular disease in adulthood. The natural process of the disease is unfavorable, almost half of the patients suffer from symptoms of heart failure (Branny et al. 2012). This is the reason why I focused my thesis on the assessment of the quality of life of patients diagnosed of aortic stenosis. Aim of the thesis and research questions: The aim of my thesis is to evaluate the quality of life patients with diagnosed aortic valve disease, within one month before the planned surgery and in the postoperative period when patients will be checked at a cardiac surgery clinic. The partial objective at the same time was to compare the quality of life and health status of patients with aortic valve disease who have completed a spa therapy with those who have rejected it. Methodology (method, research sample): The research work will be carried out as a quantitative research in a group of 29 respondents. The HRQoL construct it means questionnaire SF-36 were used to obtain the data. The questionnaire was anonymous. For the completed questionnaires, a closed box was set up, which I didn't open until the poll was complete. The survey was...

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2005. / "Health Research Methodology". Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.