METHOD: The clinical trial was conducted at University Malaya Medical Centre between 2006 and 2008. The experimental group underwent a 4-week self management program, and the control group underwent usual care. Two years after the intervention, questionnaires were randomly posted out to the participants.
RESULTS: A total of 51 questionnaires returned. There were statistically differences between groups in psychological, self-care, mobility and participation aspects in PIPP (p<0.05). The experimental group reported having higher confidence to live with breast cancer compared to control group (p<0.05). There were significant between-group changes in anxiety scores at T2 (immediately after intervention) to T4 (two years later), and the differences in anxiety scores within groups between time point T2 and T4 were significantly different (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The SAMA program is potentially capable to serve as a model intervention for successful transition to survivorship following breast cancer treatment. The program needs to be further tested for efficacy in a larger trial involving more diverse populations of women completing breast cancer treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 728 male workers were recruited in March-July 2005 from 2 major automotive assembly plants in Selangor and Pahang. In this cross-sectional study, information on socio-demography, psychosocial work factors using the 97-item Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and an abbreviated 26-item version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire containing 4 domains (physical health, psychological, social relationship, and environment) was self-administered to all workers involved.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of reported good or very good overall HRQOL and general health was 64.9% and 53.7%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that created skill was positively associated with physical health and psychological domains; whilst, skill discretion was positively associated with social relationship and environment domains. Social support was positively associated with physical health and environment domains; whilst, co-worker support was positively associated with psychological and social relationship domains. Job insecurity and hazardous condition were negatively associated with all domains, whilst psychological job demands was negatively associated with the environment domain of HRQOL.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) was the main independent variable and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief the dependent variable. Besides socio-demographic data, diabetes-related distress (DRD) and depression (DS) were included as covariates. Independent association between the MMAS score and HRQoL was done using multiple linear regression.
RESULTS: The participants' response rate was 93.1 % (700/752). Majorities were female (52.8 %), Malay (52.9 %) and married (79.1 %). The mean (SD) for age and the MMAS score was 56.9 (10.18) and 5.6 (1.42), respectively. MMAS total score correlated significantly with all HRQoL domains: overall QoL (OQoL) (r = 0.17), physical QoL (r = 0.11), psychological QoL (r = 0.10), social relationship QoL (r = 0.15) and environmental QoL (EQoL) (r = 0.18). After adjustment for covariates (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, income, exercise, macrovascular complications, DRD and DS), MA had persistent effects on OQoL (B = 0.53, 95 % CI 0.012-1.048) and EQoL (B = 0.95, 95 % CI 0.235-1.667).
CONCLUSION: MA showed prevalent correlation and positive effects on the domains of HRQoL. Despite the small effects of MA on HRQoL, the sheer presence of the independent effects provides healthcare providers good reason for initiative and intervention to improve MA, which would improve quality of life.