Un análisis integrado entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo de personas adultas con discapacidad intelectual en Chile / An integrated analysis between the quality of life and the support needs of adults with intellectual disabilities in Chile

El paradigma de apoyos y el de calidad de vida se han transformado en guías fundamentales para los avances en el ámbito de la discapacidad intelectual (DI). Con base en una muestra de 93 personas adultas con DI, se analiza, desde un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental, la relación entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo, aplicando la escala INICO-FEAPS y la escala de Intensidad de Apoyos (SIS) para cada constructo. Los principales resultados evidencian que existe una relación fuerte e indirecta entre calidad de vida y necesidades de apoyos, y también la relevancia de analizar dichos resultados desde variables como grado de discapacidad, sexo o nivel socioeconómico. La discusión permite inferir la necesidad de discutir nuevas estrategias en torno a categorías como el grado de discapacidad, la autodeterminación e inclusión social, como elementos facilitadores de la calidad de vida y apoyos desde un enfoque integral que contribuya al desarrollo de estrategias de programas sociales para la población con DI. (AU)

The support paradigm and the quality of life paradigm have become fundamental guides for progress in the field of Intellectual Disability (ID). Based on a sample of 93 adults with ID, the relationship between Quality of Life and Support Needs is analyzed from a non-experimental quantitative approach, applying the INICO-FEAPS scale and the SIS Support Intensity scale for each construct. The main results show that there is a strong and indirect relationship between quality of life and support needs, and the relevance of analyzing these results from variables such as the degree of disability, sex or socioeconomic level. The discussion allows us to infer the need to discuss new strategies around categories such as the degree of disability, self-determination and social inclusion, as facilitating elements of quality of life and supporting a comprehensive approach that contributes to the development of social program strategies for the population with ID. (AU)

Un análisis integrado entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo de personas adultas con discapacidad intelectual en Chile / An integrated analysis between the quality of life and the support needs of adults with intellectual disabilities in Chile

El paradigma de apoyos y el de calidad de vida se han transformado en guías fundamentales para los avances en el ámbito de la discapacidad intelectual (DI). Con base en una muestra de 93 personas adultas con DI, se analiza, desde un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental, la relación entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo, aplicando la escala INICO-FEAPS y la escala de Intensidad de Apoyos (SIS) para cada constructo. Los principales resultados evidencian que existe una relación fuerte e indirecta entre calidad de vida y necesidades de apoyos, y también la relevancia de analizar dichos resultados desde variables como grado de discapacidad, sexo o nivel socioeconómico. La discusión permite inferir la necesidad de discutir nuevas estrategias en torno a categorías como el grado de discapacidad, la autodeterminación e inclusión social, como elementos facilitadores de la calidad de vida y apoyos desde un enfoque integral que contribuya al desarrollo de estrategias de programas sociales para la población con DI. (AU)

The support paradigm and the quality of life paradigm have become fundamental guides for progress in the field of Intellectual Disability (ID). Based on a sample of 93 adults with ID, the relationship between Quality of Life and Support Needs is analyzed from a non-experimental quantitative approach, applying the INICO-FEAPS scale and the SIS Support Intensity scale for each construct. The main results show that there is a strong and indirect relationship between quality of life and support needs, and the relevance of analyzing these results from variables such as the degree of disability, sex or socioeconomic level. The discussion allows us to infer the need to discuss new strategies around categories such as the degree of disability, self-determination and social inclusion, as facilitating elements of quality of life and supporting a comprehensive approach that contributes to the development of social program strategies for the population with ID. (AU)

Influencia da Qualidade do Sono na Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho de Policais Militares / Influencia de la Calidad del Sueño en la Calidad de Vida en el Trabajo de la Policía Militar / Influence of Sleep Quality on the Quality of Life and Work of Military Police Officers

Resumo Introdução: A profissão policial é considerada de alto risco e exige um vigor físico e mental do trabalhador diante do serviço realizado. De tal modo que uma boa qualidade do sono é importante, pois impacta diretamente em diversos aspectos na saúde desses trabalhadores. Ademais, a falta de uma boa qualidade do sono devido ao trabalho pode influenciar negativamente a qualidade de vida no trabalho. Objetivo: Analisar a influência da qualidade do sono na qualidade de vida no trabalho de policiais militares. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, correlacionalde corte transversal, realizado no primeiro semestre de 2019, com policiais de três municípios da Bahia, Brasil. Foram utilizados três instrumentos: sociodemográfico e características laborais; qualidade de vida de vida no trabalho; e qualidade do sono. Foi aplicado o teste do qui quadrado para as variáveis sociodemograficas e ocupacionais. Posteriormente, foi aplicado o teste de correlação de Spearman entre a qualidade do sono com as dimensões da qualidade de vida no trabalho. Resultados: Evidenciou-se entre os 298 policiais que a mediana da idade foi de 40 anos e tempo de serviço ≤ 7 anos, observou-se também que os policiais com pior qualidade do sono apresentaram qualidade de vida no trabalho insatisfatória em todas as dimensões (biológica/fisiológica; psicológica/comportamental; sociológica/relacional; econômica/política, ambiental/organizacional). Conclusão: Os policiais sofrem com a qualidade do sono e consequentemente influencia negativamente a qualidade de vida no trabalho. Assim, há uma necessidade de desenvolver ações no ambiente de trabalho que possam diminuir os afastamentos decorrentes dos problemas de saúde ocasionados pela qualidade do sono.

Resumen Introdución: La formación policial se considera de alto riesgo y requiere vigor físico y mental por parte de la persona trabajadora antes de realizar el servicio. Para esto, la buena calidad de sueño es importante, ya que impacta directamente en la salud de la población trabajadora en varios aspectos. Además, la falta de una buena calidad de sueño debido al trabajo puede influir negativamente en la calidad de vida fuera del trabajo. Objetivo: Analizar la influencia de la calidad del sueño en la calidad de vida en el trabajo de policías militares. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo, correlacional transversal, realizado en el primer semestre de 2019, con policías de tres municipios de Bahía, Brasil. Se utilizaron tres instrumentos: características sociodemográficas y laborales, calidad de vida en el trabajo y calidad de sueño. Se aplicó la prueba chi cuadrado para las variables sociodemográficas y ocupacionales. Posteriormente, se aplicó la prueba de correlación de Spearman entre la calidad del sueño y las dimensiones de calidad de vida en el trabajo. Resultados: La muestra fue de 298 policías, la mediana de edad fue de 40 años y la antigüedad en el servicio fue ≤ 7 años. También, se observó quienes tuvieron peor calidad de sueño, también tuvieron una calidad de vida en el trabajo insatisfactoria en todos sus dimensiones (biológica/fisiológica; psicológica/conductual; sociológica/relacional; económica/política, ambiental/organizacional). Conclusión: Quienes son agentes de policía sufren de mala calidad de sueño y, en consecuencia, se influye negativamente su calidad de vida en el trabajo. Por lo tanto, existe la necesidad de desarrollar acciones en el lugar de trabajo que pueda reducir los riesgos de problemas de salud causados por la calidad del sueño.

Abstract Background: Police training is considered high risk and demands physical and mental vigor from the worker before preforming the service. Therefore, sleep quality is important as it directly impacts the health of these workers in several aspects. Furthermore, the lack of sleep quality due to work can negatively influence the quality of life outside of work. Aim: To analyze the influence of sleep quality on the quality of life and work of military police officers. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study, conducted in the first half of 2019 with police officers from three municipalities in Bahia, Brazil. Three instruments were used: sociodemographic and work characteristics; quality of life at work; and sleep quality. The chi-square test was applied for sociodemographic and occupational variations. Subsequently, the Spearman correlation test was applied between sleep quality and the quality of life and work dimensions. Results: Among the 298 police officers the median age was 40 years and the length of service was ≤ 7 years. It was also observed that police officers with poorer sleep quality had an unsatisfactory quality of life at work in all its dimensions (biological/physiological; psychological/behavioral; sociological/relational; economic/political, environmental/organizational). Conclusion: Police officers suffer from poor sleep quality and this negatively influence their quality of life and work. Therefore, there is a need to develop actions in the workplace that may reduce the risks of health problems caused by poor sleep quality.

Efectividad del entrenamiento muscular pélvico temprano en la fuerza de suelo pélvico, síntomas de incontinencia urinaria, función sexual y calidad de vida en pacientes posprostatectomía radical: revisión sistemática de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados / Effectiveness of early pelvic muscle training on pelvic floor strength, urinary incontinence symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life in post-radical prostatectomy patients: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la efectividad del entrenamiento muscular pélvico temprano para reducir los síntomas de incontinencia urinaria, mejorar la calidad de vida, función sexual y aumentar la fuerza de suelo pélvico en pacientes posprostatectomía radical. Se realizó una búsqueda en 8 bases de datos hasta el 26 de octubre de 2022, se evaluó la calidad metodológica y el riesgo de sesgo de 14 estudios incluidos (n=1236), se calculó la evidencia y el metaanálisis. El entrenamiento redujo significativamente los síntomas de incontinencia urinaria en comparación con un grupo control (DME=−2,80; IC 95%=−5,21 a −0,39; p=0,02), con heterogeneidad significativa (I2=83%; p=<0,0001) y evidencia moderada. Además, presentó evidencia moderada para mejorar la calidad de vida, y muy baja para mejorar la función sexual y fuerza de suelo pélvico. Estos resultados deben ser observados con precaución debido a la heterogeneidad significativa de los estudios analizados. (AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early pelvic muscle training in reducing urinary incontinence symptoms, improving quality of life, sexual function, and increasing pelvic floor strength in post-radical prostatectomy patients. A search was carried out in 8 databases until October 26, 2022, the methodological quality and the risk of bias of 14 included studies (n=1236) were evaluated, moreover, the evidence and the meta-analysis were calculated. The intervention significantly reduced urinary incontinence symptoms compared to a control group (SMD=−2.80, 95% CI=−5.21 to −0.39, P=.02), with significant heterogeneity (I2=83%; P=<.0001) and moderate evidence. In addition, it presented moderate evidence to improve quality of life, and very low evidence to improve sexual function and pelvic floor strength. These results should be viewed with caution due to the significant heterogeneity of the studies analysed. (AU)

Influencia de la capacidad manipulativa en la calidad de vida y actividades de la vida diaria en la esclerosis múltiple / Influence of manipulative skills on quality of life and activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis

Introducción: Más de un 50% de los pacientes diagnosticados con esclerosis múltiple (EM) comunican problemas con la función manipulativa e impedimentos en su vida diaria a causa de esta alteración. Por ello, el objetivo del presente estudio es determinar la afectación que la fuerza de pinza, la fuerza de presa y la destreza manipulativa ejercen sobre la calidad de vida y la autonomía personal de las personas diagnosticadas de EM, y estudiar si existe diferencia de estos aspectos entre los distintos tipos de esta enfermedad. Sujetos y métodos: Se contó con una muestra total de 126 participantes, de los cuales 57 fueron controles, y 69, casos. A todos ellos se les evaluó con el Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54, el Nine-Hole Peg Test, la dinamometría de pinza y de presa para la medición de la fuerza, y el índice de Barthel para la evaluación de las actividades básicas de la vida diaria. Resultados: Las personas con EM presentaron peores fuerza de pinza, fuerza de presa, destreza manipulativa, desempeño en actividades básicas de la vida diaria y calidad de vida (p < 0,001). La fuerza de presa es un factor condicionante en el desempeño de actividades básicas y calidad de vida en personas con EM. En cuanto al tipo de EM, el tipo remitente-recurrente presentó mejores valores (p < 0,001).Conclusiones: Los hallazgos de este estudio apuntan a que los pacientes diagnosticados con EM presentan una disminución en la fuerza de pinza, la fuerza de presa, la destreza manipulativa, la calidad de vida y la autonomía en las actividades de la vida diaria en comparación con la población sana.(AU)

Introduction: More than 50% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis report problems with manipulative function and impairments in their daily lives due to this disorder. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine how pinch strength, prey strength and manipulative dexterity affect the quality of life and personal autonomy of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and to study whether there is a difference in these aspects between different types of multiple sclerosis.Subjects and methods: There was a total sample of 126 participants, of which 57 were controls and 69 cases. All of them were assessed with a Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 test, Nine-Hole Peg Test and Barthel Index.Results: People with multiple sclerosis have worse pinch strength, prey strenght, manipulative dexterity, performance in basic activities of daily living and quality of life (p < 0.001). Prey strength is a conditioning factor for performance and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. As for the type of multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis presented better values (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The findings of this study point to the fact that patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis have a decrease in prey strength, pinch strength, manipulative dexterity, quality of life and autonomy in activities of daily living compared to the healthy population.(AU)

Adaptación y validación del Voice Handicap Index y su versión abreviada al español rioplatense de Argentina

Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo principal validar el Voice Handicap Index (VHI) y su versión abreviada (VHI-10) adaptados al español rioplatense de Argentina, con objetivos específicos centrados en evaluar su fiabilidad y validez. Metodología: La adaptación cultural incluyó técnicas de traducción directa, síntesis y retrotraducción, evaluación de la equivalencia semántica y aplicación a un grupo piloto. Para la validación se evaluó la fiabilidad de ambos índices adaptados mediante la consistencia interna (coeficiente alfa de Cronbach) y la estabilidad test-retest (prueba de Bland-Altman, CCI y r de Spearman). Además, se examinó la validez de criterio y de constructo. 213 sujetos participaron en la validación del índice adaptado de 30 ítems (123 disfónicos; 90 de control); 113, en la del índice abreviado (63 disfónicos; 50 de control). Resultados: Se constituyó el Índice de Desventaja Vocal (IDV) como la versión adaptada del VHI al español rioplatense de Argentina. Ambos índices demostraron excelente consistencia interna (IDV-30 α = 0,96; IDV-10 α = 0,92) y estabilidad y concordancia (IDV-30 CCI = 0,95; IDV-10 CCI = 0,96). Se halló alta correlación entre los puntajes de ambos índices y la autoevaluación de la severidad de la disfonía de los participantes (r = 0,85). Ambos índices demostraron capacidad de diferenciar entre individuos con disfonía y sujetos sanos (p< 0,001). El análisis factorial reveló tres factores para el IDV-30 y un factor para el IDV-10. Conclusiones: El IDV-30 e IDV-10 presentan grados adecuados de fiabilidad y validez. Ambos pueden ser incluidos en protocolos de valoración de la función vocal por profesionales de Argentina.

Aim: This study aimed to validate the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and its abbreviated version (VHI-10) adapted into Rioplatense Spanish from Argentina, with specific goals centered on assessing their reliability and validity. Methods: Cultural adaptation involved direct translation, synthesis and back-translation techniques, followed by an assessment of semantic equivalence and application to a pilot group. For the validation process, the reliability of both adapted indices was assessed through measures of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and test-retest stability (Bland-Altman test, ICC and Spearman's correlation coefficient). Additionally, we conducted analyses to asses criterion and construct validity. 213 subjects participated in the validation of the adapted 30-items index, (123 with dysphonia; 90 from control group); 113, in the abbreviated version (63 with dysphonia; 50 from control group). Results: The "Índice de Desventaja Vocal" (IDV) was established as the adapted version of the VHI into Rioplatense Spanish from Argentina. Both indeces exhibited excellent internal consistency (IDV-30 α = 0,96; IDV-10 α = 0,92) and satisfactory stability and agreement (IDV-30 CCI = 0,95; IDV-10 CCI = 0,96). Regarding validity, a strong correlation was observed between the scores of both indeces and the participant's self-assessment of dysphonia degree (r = 0,85). Both indices effectively differentiated between individuals with dysphonia and healthy subjects (p< 0,001). Factor analysis revealed three factors for the IDV-30 and one factor for the IDV-10. Conclusion: The IDV-30 and IDV-10 demonstrate satisfactory levels of reliability and validity. Both indices can be incorporated into the assessment protocols for evaluating the vocal function by professionals in Argentina.

Quality of Life Outcomes and Determining Factors in Breast Cancer Patients Reporting to a Tertiary Care Centre in the Sub-Himalayan Region of India.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the quality of life (QOL) outcomes among breast cancer patients in the sub-Himalayan region and, secondly, to identify factors affecting them. METHOD: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and BR-45 questionnaires in English and Hindi translations were used. The BR-45 Hindi translation was obtained using the forward-backward translation method. To check internal consistency and validity, Cronbach's alpha was employed. EORTC scoring manuals were used to score the questionnaires. The analysis of variance test was used to determine the impact of different treatment and sociodemographic factors on QOL domains. RESULTS: The English and Hindi translations had Cronbach's alpha values of 0.949 and 0.950, respectively, suggesting that the data gathered were reliable. The mean score for global health status was 64.4 ± 29.7, the functional scale (FS) of QLQ_C30 was 76.9 ± 21.5, the FS of BR45 was 64.6 ± 24.1, the symptom scale (SS) of QLQ_C30 was 20.3 ± 19.2, and the SS of BR45 was 22.5 ± 19.1. Factors adversely affecting global health status included younger age, pre/perimenopausal status, and ongoing chemotherapy. Functional scales were significantly affected by marital status and earlier stages of the disease. Symptom scales were adversely affected by ongoing chemotherapy, an earlier stage of the disease, and a duration of treatment of less than six months. CONCLUSION: Tailoring treatment to reduce radiotherapy, surgery, and systemic therapy-related side effects may improve QOL. Counselling and social support groups may help patients cope with the burden of family and societal roles.

Exploring the Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation in Nigeria: A Focus on Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients and Its Association With Stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents a significant global public health concern, particularly due to its association with adverse health outcomes such as stroke and heart failure. In Nigeria, where the burden of cardiovascular diseases is rising, understanding the prevalence and impact of AF is crucial for effective healthcare planning and intervention strategies. This review examines the epidemiology of AF in Nigeria, comparing it with global and African data. It explores demographic and regional variations, comorbidity factors, and the impact of AF on the healthcare system, mortality, and quality of life. Notably, the prevalence of AF in Nigeria generally falls just under 5%, but this figure rises to approximately 9% in stroke patients and 11-20% among those with heart failure (HF). Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is identified as a significant AF risk factor within Africa, affecting around 20% of AF patients - a stark contrast to the 2% in North America. AF's association with higher mortality rates and functional deterioration highlights the urgent need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, alongside broader public health measures. In conclusion, the review emphasises the significant public health concern AF represents in Nigeria, especially among HF and stroke patients, and stresses the importance of tailored healthcare policies and interventions to mitigate AF's impact and improve patient outcomes.

Unveiling the Multifaceted Management of Oral Mucositis in Cancer Patients: A Narrative Review.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a major and common adverse reaction to cancer treatment, occurring in all patients who undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy that includes the mucosal areas of the oral and oropharyngeal region. The pathophysiology of OM remains incompletely understood, and there are many unanswered questions about the risk factors for developing OM. Multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers must collaborate to better understand and expand treatment strategies for OM and other inflammatory conditions in oncology. This will lead to the development of more effective treatments and reduce the burden of OM in cancer patients. This article comprehensively reviews the risk factors and patient factors associated with OM, its pathogenesis, clinical presentation, grading, and management.

The Quality of Life of Older Adults in Rural Eastern India and Its Influencing Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of older adults in rural Odisha, India, exploring its multidimensional nature across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. The impact of depression and various sociodemographic factors on QoL was also investigated. Methods The research was conducted in the Tangi block of Khordha district, Odisha, encompassing 468 older adults. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and sociodemographic questionnaire were used in data collection. Sampling employed a multistage approach, with statistical analysis utilizing Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY), including t-tests for normally distributed data and the Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data. Results The QoL of older adults in rural Odisha showed variability, with physical and social domains exhibiting relatively positive scores compared to psychological and environmental domains. Depression significantly impacted all QoL dimensions, with the most profound effect observed in global QoL and global health. Sociodemographic factors such as employment, substance use, elder abuse, adverse life events, and poverty were identified as significant determinants of global QoL. Additionally, recreational activity, elder abuse, education, and employment significantly affected all QoL domains. Conclusions This study reveals the complex landscape of QoL of older adults in rural Odisha. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions targeting mental health, social support, and environmental conditions to enhance the overall well-being of this population. Policymakers and healthcare professionals should consider these multidimensional factors to develop effective strategies for improving the QoL of older adults in similar contexts.

Clinical Trial Protocol for "Replace Cysto": Replacing Invasive Cystoscopy with Urine Testing for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Surveillance-A Multicenter, Randomized, Phase 2 Healthcare Delivery Trial Comparing Quality of Life During Cancer Surveillance with Xpert Bladder Cancer Monitor or Bladder EpiCheck Urine Testing Versus Frequent Cystoscopy.

"Replace Cysto" is a multisite randomized phase 2 trial including 240 participants with low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, in which participants will be randomized 1:1:1 to one of two urine marker-based approaches alternating a urine marker test (Xpert Bladder Cancer Monitor or Bladder EpiCheck) with cystoscopy or to frequent scheduled cystoscopy. The primary objective is to determine whether urinary quality of life after surveillance is significantly improved in the urine marker arms. The primary outcome will be the patient-reported urinary quality of life domain score of the validated QLQ-NMIBC24 instrument, measured 1-3 d after surveillance. Exploratory outcomes include discomfort after surveillance, the number of invasive procedures that participants undergo per 1000 person years, complications from these procedures per 1000 person years, nonurinary quality of life, acceptability of surveillance, and bladder cancer recurrence and progression. Comparators include surveillance using (1) the Xpert Bladder Cancer Monitor test, (2) the Bladder EpiCheck urinary marker, or (3) frequent cystoscopy alone. After a negative cystoscopy ≤4 mo following bladder tumor resection, all the participants will undergo surveillance at 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo (with time zero defined as the date of the most recent bladder tumor resection). In the urine marker arms, surveillance at 6 and 18 mo will be performed with the marker. Regardless of the arm, participants will undergo cystoscopy at 12 and 24 mo. End of study for each participant will be their 24-mo cystoscopy. Overall trial duration is estimated at 5 yr from when the study opens to enrollment until completion of data analyses. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05796375).

Variables with a negative impact on the quality of life of gays and lesbians in Spain: evaluation of homophobic and lesbophobic indicators to guide youth education.

Background: Despite the evidence about the negative impact of homophobic and lesbophobic attitudes on the quality of life of these individuals, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to report a lack of research and understanding regarding the health of gays and lesbians and LGTB people in general. There is a growing commitment in public health to understand and improve the health and well-being of LGTB people, and it is very important that professionals in social, educational and health care settings are adequately trained and informed to solve the problems that persist in this population. The aim of this study was to identify homophobic and lesbophobic attitudes in a Spanish youth population, analyzing the relationship of these attitudes with sociodemographic, cultural, political and personal variables. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with 325 young people aged 18-30 years. The information was collected through the Modern Homophobia Scale of Raja & Stokes, in which sociodemographic and sociocultural variables were also gathered. The data were analyzed and correlations were estimated. Results: The males showed a more negative attitude toward homosexual people compared to the females. The participants with a higher education level presented more positive attitudes toward homosexual people. Younger people with a heterosexual orientation had more negative attitudes toward homosexual people compared to those with a homosexual orientation. The participants with a stronger right-wing political tendency presented a greater percentage of negative attitudes toward LGTB people. Conclusion: Variables such as education level, sexual orientation and political ideology may have a significant influence on the attitudes toward homosexual men and/or lesbian women. Different results were obtained as a function of sex, thus it is important to consider the gender perspective in future studies that tackle this topic.

The Effectiveness and Optimal Dose of Resistance Training in Patients With Subacute and Persistent Low Back-Related Leg Pain: A Systematic Review.

A subgroup of patients with low back pain (LBP) suffers from low back-related leg pain (LBLP), which can be classified as radicular pain, or somatic referred pain without nerve root involvement. LBLP is considered an obstacle to recovery and a strong negative prognostic factor for medium- and long-term disability. In this review, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and optimal dose of resistance training (RT) in patients with subacute or persistent LBLP to provide clinical recommendations for practice. This systematic review was conducted by adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients ≥18 years of age were included. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using "the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias" (RoB) and the inter-rater agreement for full-text selection was evaluated using Cohen's Kappa (K). The search elicited a total of 4.537 records, and two RCTs involving a total of 196 participants were identified through a selection process based on title, abstract, and full-text assessment. Both studies had a low to moderate risk of bias. The inter-examiner concordance index for the selection of full text was excellent (K=1). RT seems to be an effective and safe intervention for patients with LBLP, but its long-term effectiveness, superiority over other types of exercise-based therapies, and optimal dosage still constitute a gray area in the literature.

The Association Between Appetite and Quality of Life in Adults with Obesity or Severe Obesity Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is considered as the most common bariatric procedure in Saudi Arabia. It is a non-reversible procedure defined as removal of a large portion of the stomach. Objective: The objective of the current study is to compare the appetite and quality of life (QoL) between adults' post-sleeve gastrectomy and obese/morbidly obese adults (pre-SG). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted in adults (aged between 18 and 65 years), post-sleeve gastrectomy (n = 80, 41 Males and 39 Females) and obese group (n = 60, 28 Males and 32 Females). The study population was recruited from the bariatric surgery clinic of King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz University Hospital. A self-reported questionnaire was collected that included a visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess the appetite level, and SF-36 QoL questionnaire. Results: No significant differences were found in age and gender between the study groups (p > 0.05). The median score feeling of fullness was significantly higher in the SG group (77.5, IQR: 48 and 50, IQR: 40, respectively) than in the obese group (p < 0.001). The amount of food eaten was statistically lower in the SG group (30, IQR: 20) than the obese group (50, IQR: 60) (p = 0.005). Patients post SG had significantly higher QoL scores in all physical and mental scales, physical component summary and mental component summary (p < 0.003). Conclusion: Patients post SG have improved appetite and QoL. Satiety, less prospective food consumption, BMI, age, gender and comorbidities are associated with QoL. Future studies are needed to compare the QoL in post-SG patients with the normative values of the QoL in Saudi Arabia.

The relationship between HIV-related stigma and quality of life among HIV infected outpatients: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

Background: The impact of stigma on individuals with HIV remains a significant challenge, causing feelings of worthlessness, shame, and emotional distress. This study aimed to examine the relationship between HIV-related stigma and quality of life (QOL) among HIV-infected outpatients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Vietnam. Design and methods: This was a cross-sectional study which conducted at Vinh General Hospital, Nghe An Province, involved 323 HIV-infected outpatients. Participants were surveyed between October 2020 and October 2021. The study collected data through structured interviews, assessing socio-demographic factors, HIV stigma, and QOL. Results: The result showed that HIV-infected outpatients experiencing higher stigma showed poorer QOL across various domains. The negative impact of stigma was particularly evident in domains related to physical health, psychological well-being, and spirituality. Participants who were married, had children, consumed alcohol, had comorbidities (particularly hepatitis B/C), and lacked a history of drug use reported varying levels of correlation with QOL domains and stigma. Conclusions: By identifying the intricate connections between stigma and QOL, the study provides valuable insights for designing comprehensive interventions that prioritize the well-being of HIV infected outpatients.

Symptom Burden and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure.

Introduction: Heart failure is a debilitating condition that is associated with several burdensome symptoms that impede patients' quality of life. However, patients' experience of distressing symptoms and their impacts on their quality of life is not studied in Jordan. Objectives: To assess the severity of distressing symptoms and to assess the relationships between these symptoms and the quality of life among patients with heart failure in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sampling approach was used to recruit the participants. Heart failure patients (n = 167) who visited the outpatient clinics in three hospitals in Amman between July and November 2021 were included. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and Short-Form 36 tool were used. Results: Participants were more likely males with a mean age of 55.2 years (SD = 13.7). The most distressing symptoms among patients with heart failure were tiredness (M = 4.56, SD = 3.24), worse well-being (M = 4.34, SD = 2.52), and drowsiness (M = 3.5, SD = 3.06), respectively. Symptoms burden were negatively associated with the physical and the mental components summary of the quality of life. Pain, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, and poor well-being were significant predictors of the physical components. The predictors of the mental components were tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, and anxiety. Conclusions: This study revealed that patients with heart failure facing significant symptom burden. The patients showed inadequate quality of life in both physical and mental components that were inversely associated with symptom burden. Given the debilitating effects of symptom burden on heart failure patients' quality of life, therefore, symptom assessment and management have to be a priority.

Health related quality of life and its predictors among postpartum mother in Southeast Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Post-childbirth, woman's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is significantly impacted, leading to decreased daily activity, reduced self-care, challenges with breastfeeding and baby weaning, and increased medical costs for both mother and newborn.This study aimed to assess the HRQOL and its predictors among postpartum women in Southeast Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Southeast Ethiopia between March and May 2022, involving randomly selected sample of 794 postpartum women attending immunization services in public health facilities. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire, and descriptive statistics were computed. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to predict HRQOL, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals used to estimate associations. Results: The study revealed that the overall HRQOL, physical component summary, and mental component summary of quality of life had mean scores of 43.80 ± 27.88, 45.39 ± 28.58, and 42.20 ± 28.15(mean ± SD) respectively. Walking to the health facility (AOR = 2.09; 95% CI: (1.31,3.31); using public transport (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.69-3.93); having the fear of COVID-19 (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.08-1.99); having health facility admission history during the recent pregnancy (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.08-2.44); having postpartum depression (PPD) (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.57-2.89) were predictors of a lower level of overall HRQOL among postpartum women. Conclusion: The study found that nearly half of postpartum women in Ethiopia have lower HRQOL, with factors such as transport use, recent baby's pregnancy admission history, and postpartum depression (PPD) significantly affecting their overall, physical, and mental HRQOL. Fear of COVID-19 was found to be significantly associated with lower overall and physical HRQO. The implementation of appropriate strategies addressing identified factors is crucial for enhancing the HRQOL among postpartum women in Ethiopia.

Measuring the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 by means of the "international student well-being study questionnaire": Evidence on Italian university students.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic appeared as an unpredictable disruption of daily activities. This situation produced a unique mental health impact for the general population, youth, and vulnerable groups. A documented consequence has been alcohol abuse and impaired mental health. To our knowledge, no published study has yet evaluated the rates of depressive symptoms, academic frustration, and substance abuse in the Italian student population in the COVID era linking them to sociodemographic variables. Aims: To investigate the incidence of depressive symptoms, academic frustration, and substance abuse students developed in one university in Northern Italy during the first COVID-19 outbreak, using a student wellbeing framework borrowed from Allardt's and Bronfenbrenner's theories. Methods: Descriptive statistics, correlations, Wilcoxon test and factorial ANOVA were performed on data gathered through an online questionnaire sent to a convenience sample of university students. Data collection occurred between 18 May and June 21, 2020. Results: According to the framework used, Being was the dimension of sociodemographic variables, Having was economic support and Loving was social support. Students experienced academic frustration and related depressive symptoms. Male gender seemed to be less affected by the depressive syndrome. With regard to economic support and related repercussions on depressive symptoms, students who reported that they could not obtain a loan showed significantly higher depressive symptoms. Students benefiting from greater financial support showed less academic frustration. Age appeared to be a predictor of academic frustration since young students proved to be the most frustrated. The examined students' population showed a significant decrease in alcohol and cigarettes consumption. Conclusions: Having and Being dimensions influenced depression and academic frustration. Having and Loving dimensions were related with use of substances. The study findings support the implementation of interventions to help students, at a psychological, social, financial level aiming at fostering the quality of students' educational life.

Food insecurity and associated health and social determinants among older adults in Ghana: Analysis of the WHO's study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), 2014-2015.

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Food Insecurity (FI) and further quantify its association with unmet need for health services and health-related outcomes among older adults aged 50 years and above in Ghana. The Ghana Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health was used. Body Mass Index (BMI), depressive episodes, functional difficulties (FD), low Quality of Life (QoL), memory decline, and Unmet Needs of Health Services (UNHS) are the the study outcomes. Ordinary Least Square, and Poisson regression analysis modified with Mahalanobis distance matching within propensity score caliper weights were employed. Stata 16.1 was used to perform analysis and a p-value < 0.05 was deemed significant. The prevalence of FI among older adults aged 50 years or older in Ghana was approximately 28 %(95 %CI = 24.5-31.7) and was strongly associated with lower educational attainment and social support. The prevalence ratio of depression, FD, low QoL and UNHS among older adults who experienced FI were; 3.43(95 %CI = 2.25-5.21), 1.18(95 %CI = 1.12-1.23), 2.01(95 %CI = 1.54-2.62), and 1.46(95 %CI = 1.01-2.11). Memory significantly decreased by 85 percentage points% among food insecure older adults [aß(95 %CI) = -0.85(-1.62--0.07)]. Older adults with relatively higher educational attainment and social support are less likely to suffer FI and associated limited health and poor social well-being. In the national quest to achieve SDG 2, these health and social determinants of FI among older adults should be considered in the implementation of the national ageing policy to improve the health and well-being of older adults in Ghana.

The Association of Retinal Disease with Vision Impairment and Functional Status in Medicare Patients.

Background: The association of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with functional status in the general Medicare population are not well established. Objectives: This study examined patient-reported survey data linked with Medicare claims to describe the burden of these vision-threatening retinal diseases (VTRDs) among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data linked with Medicare Fee-for-Service claims data from 2006 to 2018 were used in a nationally representative retrospective pooled cross-sectional population-based comparison study. Outcomes between community-dwelling beneficiaries with nAMD (n = 1228), DME (n = 101), or RVO (n = 251) were compared with community-dwelling beneficiaries without any VTRDs (n = 104 088), controlling for baseline demographic and clinical differences. Beneficiaries with a diagnosis of nAMD, DME, or RVO during the data year were included; those with other VTRDs were excluded. Outcomes included vision function and loss, overall functioning as assessed by difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (iADLs), anxiety/depression, falls, and fractures. Results: In patient cohorts with nAMD, DME, and RVO, approximately one-third (34.2%-38.3%) reported "a little trouble seeing" (vs 28.3% for controls), and 26%, 17%, and 9%, respectively, reported "a lot of trouble seeing/blindness" (vs 5% of controls). Difficulty walking and doing heavy housework were the most reported ADLs and iADLs, respectively. Compared with those without VTRDs, beneficiaries with nAMD had higher odds of diagnosed vision loss (odds ratio [OR], 5.39; 95% confidence interval, 4.06-7.16; P < .001) and difficulties with iADLs (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.80; P = .005); no differences were observed for DME or RVO vs control. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty status, comorbidities, and other relevant covariates, nAMD, DME, and RVO were not significantly associated with anxiety/depression, falls, or fractures. Discussion: Patients with nAMD or DME were more likely to report severe visual impairment than those without VTRDs, although only those with nAMD were more likely to be diagnosed with vision loss. Conclusions: Patients with nAMD continue to experience more vision impairment and worse functional status compared with a similar population of Medicare beneficiaries despite availability of therapies like antivascular endothelial growth factor to treat retinal disease.