Katarzyna Lomper

Effects of depression and anxiety on asthma-related quality of life.

INTRODUCTION Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in adults. It affects their quality of life. Studies confirm that depression and anxiety occurs in asthma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 96 patients with asthma divided into two groups: patients with controlled (n = 33) and uncontrolled asthma (n = 63). The analysis of asthma control was performed on the basis of the ACT (Asthma Control Test) results. The study used SF-36 (Short Form 36) questionnaire and HADS (Hospital and Depression Scale) Scale. RESULTS An analysis of the correlations between QoL (Quality of Life) and the level of depression revealed a decrease in QoL scores in MCS (Mental Component Score) domain in the group with controlled asthma (71.8 - patients without depression, 53.4 - patients with probable depression, and 51.4 - patients with depression; p = 0.032). A similar analysis of the correlations between QoL and the level of anxiety in this group of patients proved no correlations in PCS (Physical Component Score) and MCS domains. In the group of patients with uncontrolled asthma, anxiety and depression correlated negatively with the QoL in PCS and MCS domains. Anxiety and depression are found in asthma patients, with higher severity observed in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Female gender, the level of asthma control, asthma severity, smoking, as well as diagnoses of anxiety and depression are predictors of a significantly lower QoL in asthma. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety and depression are found in asthma patients, with higher severity observed in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Female gender, the level of asthma control, asthma severity, smoking, as well as diagnoses of anxiety and depression are predictors of a significantly lower quality of life in asthma.

The acceptance of illness, the intensity of pain and the quality of life in patients with lung cancer

Background Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. The overall 5-year survival rate is very low and accounts for only 15%. Poor quality of life is considered a prognostic factor for shorter survival in lung cancer patients. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between pain, the acceptance of illness and quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Methods The study included 155 patients with lung cancer with mean age of 62.23 [standard deviation (SD)=9.86] years. We used the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) for the assessment of quality of life. For statistical analysis, Spearmans rank correlation coefficient and linear regression method were used. Results Mean score of the acceptance of illness was 27.1 (SD=9.2). Mean score of the pain severity as measured by the VAS was 4.07 (SD=1.83). The acceptance of illness was significantly positively correlated with all the domains of quality of life. Both the AIS and the VAS were independent determinants of physical and mental components of quality of life. Age and World Health Organization (WHO) performance status were additional predictors of physical component of quality of life. Conclusions The knowledge about the acceptance of illness, consequences of the decreased acceptance of illness, and factors affecting its level in patients with lung cancer is still insufficient. Relationships among acceptance of illness, quality of life, and pain should be further investigated.

Symptoms, acceptance of illness and health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation

Introduction: Acceptance of illness plays a key role, allowing the patient to adapt to the disease and its treatment, and to maintain their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) despite chronic conditions. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between severity of arrhythmia symptoms, acceptance of illness and HRQOL in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: The study included 99 patients (mean age 64.6) treated for atrial fibrillation. Three standardized instruments were used: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-BREF) questionnaire, the Arrhythmia-Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA) and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Results: Patients with high illness acceptance levels obtained better results in all WHOQoL-BREF domains: physical (57.0±8.9 vs. 51.1±12.5 vs. 42.0±6.2; p<0.001), social (62.6±19.8 vs. 52.5±20.0 vs. 45.7±16.0; p=0.019) and environmental (62.9±12.7 vs. 52.7±7.6 vs. 60.7±3.6; p<0.001), and in the ASTA HRQOL scale (10.5±5.4 vs. 16.1±7.6 vs. 20.3±0.5; p<0.001). Multiple-factor analysis showed AIS to be a statistically significant independent determinant of HRQOL in the physical domain of the WHOQoL (β=0.242) and in the overall HRQOL assessment in the ASTA HRQOL scale (β= −0.362). Other statistically significant independent predictors included: the negative impact of female sex on the physical (β= −0.291) and social (β= −0.284) domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, and the positive impact of urban residence on the physical WHOQOL-BREF domain and on symptom intensity in the ASTA symptom scale. Conclusions: Acceptance of illness is an important factor which has been shown to impact on HRQOL in atrial fibrillation. Female sex is a predictor of worse HRQOL, while urban residence improves HRQOL in the physical domain and decreases symptom intensity (ASTA symptom scale).

Wpływ edukacji diabetologicznej na ocenę jakości życia chorych z cukrzycą typu 2

Wstep. Cukrzyca typu 2 jest chorobą przewleklą rozwijającą sie podstepnie przez dlugie lata bez objawow klinicznych. Powoduje wiele zmian w dotychczasowym funkcjonowaniu, przez co obniza ocene jakości zycia. Obok farmakoterapii waznym elementem leczenia pacjenta z cukrzycą jest edukacja diabetologiczna, ktora ma za zadanie odpowiednio przygotowac pacjenta do wspoluczestniczenia i wspolpracy w procesie leczenia. Cel pracy. Celem pracy bylo zbadanie wplywu edukacji diabetologicznej na ocene jakości zycia chorych z cukrzycą typu 2. Material i metody. Grupa respondentow liczyla 100 osob (56 kobiet i 44 mezczyzn). Wszystkich chorych podczas pobytu poddano zorganizowanej edukacji diabetologicznej. Grupe kontrolną stanowilo 100 pacjentow (57 kobiet i 43 mezczyzn). Do pomiaru oceny jakości zycia oraz satysfakcji z leczenia chorych z cukrzycą typu 2 wykorzystano kwestionariusz ogolny SF-36 (Short Form 36) oraz specyficzny ADDQoL (Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life). Wyniki. Choroba wplynela na ocene jakości zycia w grupie chorych edukowanych oraz nieedukowanych. Chorzy edukowani lepiej oceniali swoją jakośc zycia we wszystkich domenach kwestionariusza SF-36 oraz ADDQoL. Wnioski. Edukacja diabetologiczna pozytywie wplywa na ocene jakości zycia we wszystkich domenach kwestionariusza SF-36 i ADDQoL. Problemy Pielegniarstwa 2015; 23 (1): 1–6