OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the factors that have had a significant impact on mobility in recent years and currently, and to identify gaps in our understanding of these factors. The study aims to highlight areas where further research is needed and where new and effective solutions are required.
METHODS: The PRISMA methodology was used to conduct a scoping review in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Papers published from 2007 to 2021 were searched in November 2021. Of these, 52 papers were selected from the initial 788 outputs for the final analysis.
RESULTS: The final selected papers were analyzed, and the key determinants were found to be environmental, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial, which confirms the findings of previous studies. One new determinant is technological. New and effective solutions lie in understanding the interactions between different determinants of mobility, addressing environmental factors, and exploring opportunities in the context of emerging technologies, such as the integration of smart home technologies, design of accessible and age-friendly public spaces, development of policies and regulations, and exploration of innovative financing models to support the integration of assistive technologies into the lives of seniors.
CONCLUSION: For an effective and comprehensive solution to support senior mobility, the determinants cannot be solved separately. Physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and technological determinants can often be perceived as the cause/motivation for mobility. Further research on these determinants can help to arrive at solutions for environmental determinants, which, in turn, will help improve mobility. Future studies should investigate financial aspects, especially since many technological solutions are expensive and not commonly available, which limits their use.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review evidence regarding the association between active aging and quality of life (QoL) among older adults and to determine the most widely used study designs and measurement instruments in studies conducted between 2000 and 2020.
METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by a systematic search of four electronic databases and cross-reference lists. Original studies examining the association between active aging and QoL in individuals aged 60 years or older were considered. The quality of the included studies and the direction and consistency of the association between active aging and QoL were assessed.
RESULTS: A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most studies reported a positive association between active aging and QoL among older adults. Active aging had a consistent association with various QoL domains including physical environment, health and social services, social environment, economic, personal, and behavioral determinants.
CONCLUSION: Active aging had a positive and consistent association with several QoL domains among older adults, backing the notion that the better the active aging determinants, the better the QoL among older adults. Considering the broader literature, it is necessary to facilitate and encourage the active participation of older adults in physical, social, and economic activities for the maintenance and/or improvement of QoL. Identifying other possible determinants and enhancing the methods to improve those determinants may help improve the QoL among older adults.
METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed from August 2020 to November 2020. Patients with PID and their families were invited to answer the PedsQL Malay version (4.0) questionnaire, the tool used to assess the HRQOL. A total of 41 families and 33 patients with PID answered the questionnaire. A comparison was performed with the previously published value of healthy Malaysian children.
RESULT: Parents of respondents recorded a lower mean of total score than the parents of healthy children (67.26 ± 16.73 vs. 79.51 ± 11.90, p-value = 0.001, respectively). PID patients reported lower mean total score to healthy children (73.68 ± 16.38 vs. 79.51 ± 11.90, p-value = 0.04), including the psychosocial domain (71.67 ± 16.82 vs. 77.58 ± 12.63, p-value = 0.05) and school functioning (63.94 ± 20.87 vs. 80.00 ± 14.40, p-value = 0.007). No significant difference of reported HRQOL when comparing between subgroup of PID on immunoglobulin replacement therapy and those without immunoglobulin replacement (56.96 ± 23.58 vs. 65.83 ± 23.82, p-value 0.28). Socioeconomic status was found to be predictive of the lower total score of PedsQL in both parent and children reports.
CONCLUSION: Parents and children with PID, especially those from middle socioeconomic status, have lower HRQOL and school function impairment than healthy children.
Settings and Design: Cohort study.
Materials and Methods: Patient-related variables were obtained using questionnaires in both pre- and post-intervention phases. In addition to this, in preintervention phase, lacunae in doctor-patient communication were obtained. Based on this, the postgraduates were trained in relevant communication skills required during complete denture treatment. In postintervention phase, the postgraduates were again followed up for continuation or decay of skills.
Statistical Analysis: Mixed-mode approach - quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Results: Both groups were similar in psychological parameters, personality domains, denture quality and quality of life at baseline. However, there was significant difference in denture satisfaction (P < 0.001) in both the groups. In the experimental group, denture satisfaction was more (80.4%) and quality of life had improved from baseline to 3 months (P = 0.000). Denture satisfaction was associated with self-efficacy (P = 0.002) and the communication skills of the dentist (P = 0.000). Quality of life was associated with the conscientiousness domain of personality (P = 0.049) and the communication skills of the dentist (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Satisfaction and quality of life with dentures were associated with self-efficacy, conscientiousness domain and the communication skills of the dentist. Denture satisfaction can be predicted by dentist communication skills. Therefore, training in communication skills for complete denture patient management and assessment of the psychological profile of the patient could contribute to the effective patient-centered practice to avoid patient dissatisfaction.
Settings and Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.
Materials and Methods: Fifty-two edentulous participants treated with mandibular overdentures using either single implant (n = 26) or two implants (n = 26) with immediate loading protocol by a single operator. The low-profile stud-attachments (LOCATOR; Zest Anchors) were attached to the implants and female attachments were picked up within 0-7 days of implant placement. The OHRQoL was recorded using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire either in English or in the Malay language before treatment and 1 month and 1 year after treatment.
Statistical Analysis Used: Kruskal Wallis test was used to find out significant difference amongst 3 timepoints and 7 OHIP-14 domains and Mann-Whitney-U test to compare 1IMO or 2IMO groups.
Results: Compared to baseline OHIP-14 scores, participants had a statistically significant decrease in total OHIP-14 at 1 month and 1 year after-treatment time points in both 1IMO and 2IMO groups (P < 0.05). The difference between 1 month and 1 year after-treatment total and subscale scores were also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The overall QoL improvement was comparatively higher in 2IMO group than 1IMO group. The OHIP-14 scores were statistically different within seven domains (P < 0.05). Overall total scores between 1IMO and 2IMO groups were also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) at baseline and insignificant (P > 0.05) at 1 month and 1 year.
Conclusions: Mandibular single and 2IMO improve the QoL of elderly edentulous Malaysian participants at 1 month of immediate loading and 1 year of recall. 1IMO may provide comparable QoL with the elderly patients using 2 implants.
METHODS: The original 20-item QIRC was forward-backward translated into Malay in preparation for the Pilot Malay QIRC. The pilot version was pre-tested on 105 spectacle/contact lens-corrected myopes, and the results were reviewed and cross-culturally adapted to produce the Final Malay QIRC. The final version was self-administered to a new sample of 304 participants. A Rasch analysis was conducted to evaluate the items and response categories of the Pilot and the Final Malay QIRC. Test-retest reliability was also analysed on the Final Malay QIRC.
RESULTS: Based on the pre-test findings, Rasch analysis revealed a multidimensional scale (functional scale [Items 1 to 13] and emotional scale [Items 14 to 20], which were separated in subsequent analysis), unordered response categories for the functional scale (Category 3 was collapsed into Category 2), one misfit item (Item 3 was removed) and six items required modification (Items 4, 6 to 9, and 12 were reworded and cross-culturally adapted). In the Final Malay QIRC, both the functional and emotional scales had ordered response categories, good person reliability (functional, 0.80; emotional, 0.81) and separation index (functional, 2.01; emotional, 2.06), well-targeted items (targeting precision: functional, 0.28 logits; emotional, 0.08 logits), and satisfactory fit statistics (infit and outfit mean square were less than 1.50 for all items). A noticeable differential item functioning (DIF) between genders was found in Item 18 (DIF contrast, 0.40 logits; p = 0.04). Test-retest reliability analysis demonstrated a high intraclass correlation coefficient (0.94) and Cronbach's alpha (0.97) with a coefficient of repeatability of ±8.14 units.
CONCLUSIONS: The Malay-translated version of the QIRC has good psychometric characteristics for assessing the quality of life of refractive correction wearers in Malaysia. This translated and cross-culturally adapted Malay QIRC is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in routine clinical practice.
OBJECTIVES: to create a set of evidence- and expert consensus-based falls prevention and management recommendations applicable to older adults for use by healthcare and other professionals that consider: (i) a person-centred approach that includes the perspectives of older adults with lived experience, caregivers and other stakeholders; (ii) gaps in previous guidelines; (iii) recent developments in e-health and (iv) implementation across locations with limited access to resources such as low- and middle-income countries.
METHODS: a steering committee and a worldwide multidisciplinary group of experts and stakeholders, including older adults, were assembled. Geriatrics and gerontological societies were represented. Using a modified Delphi process, recommendations from 11 topic-specific working groups (WGs), 10 ad-hoc WGs and a WG dealing with the perspectives of older adults were reviewed and refined. The final recommendations were determined by voting.
RECOMMENDATIONS: all older adults should be advised on falls prevention and physical activity. Opportunistic case finding for falls risk is recommended for community-dwelling older adults. Those considered at high risk should be offered a comprehensive multifactorial falls risk assessment with a view to co-design and implement personalised multidomain interventions. Other recommendations cover details of assessment and intervention components and combinations, and recommendations for specific settings and populations.
CONCLUSIONS: the core set of recommendations provided will require flexible implementation strategies that consider both local context and resources.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2022 in a School for Special Needs in Malang City, East Java Province, Indonesia. The pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) and Institutional and Family Support questionnaire were used to measure the HRQoL and support perceived by parents of children with ASD. We analyzed each component of the PedsQL and the Institutional and Family Support questionnaire. The independent T-test was performed to analyze the association between HRQoL and perceived support by parents of children with ASD.
FINDINGS: The results showed that most participants (72.7%) were women aged 40. As many as 69.39% of participants had more than one child, and 16.33% declared they had other children who experienced the same problem (special needs children). This study indicated that the average health-related quality of life score in children with ASD was 57.41 (9.418). The finding of this study showed a significant mean difference in HRQoL scores in children with ASD who received high institutional and family support compared to those who had low (p = 0.028, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -11.071 to 0.664).
CONCLUSION: Institutional support positively impacts children with ASD's quality of life. Therefore, it is essential to improve the adequacy of support felt by families while caring for children with ASD.
OBJECTIVE: To perform a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of 3 modules of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey (OPUS): (1) lower-extremity functional status (LEFS), (2) client satisfaction with device and services (CSDS), and (3) HRQoL in Malay language, and analyze its psychometric properties.
STUDY DESIGN: Translation and validation study.
METHODS: This translation process consisted of 4 phases: (1) a forward-backward translation, (2) content and face validity by utilizing content and face validity indices, (3) pilot testing and psychometric analysis using exploratory factor analysis, and (4) test-retest reliability.
RESULTS: One item from OPUS Health Quality of Life Index-Malay pilot version, 5 items from OPUS LEFS-Malay pilot version, and 4 items of OPUS Satisfaction with Device and Services-Malay pilot version were deleted because of poor factor loading of <0.6. The final version of Modified OPUS HRQoL-M, Modified OPUS LEFS-M, and Modified OPUS CSDS-M consisted of 22 items, 15 items, and 17 items, respectively. The final versions of all 3 Modified OPUS Malay version possess good internal consistency of 0.854, 0.927, and 0.98, and intraclass correlation of 0.773, 0.871, and 0.821, respectively .
CONCLUSION: Modified OPUS HRQoL-M, Modified OPUS LEFS-M, and Modified OPUS CSDS-M are valid and reliable instruments to be adopted into the local Malaysia population.
METHODS: A total of 399 women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy were recruited from government maternal and child health clinics in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and completed a self-administered online questionnaire. Content validity was conducted with an expert panel consisting of 4 members. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using maximum likelihood was conducted to determine the construct validity. Internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (CAC), while the test-retest reliability was conducted using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
RESULTS: The questionnaire had an appropriate content validity index of 0.91. The CPQ-P consists of 22 items, measuring 5 constructs, including morning chrono-habits, sleeping habits, evening eating, temporal eating, and pregnancy symptoms. The factor model showed good fit with χ2/df = 2.486, GFI = 0.893, CFI = 0.912, and RMSEA = 0.065. The 22 items in CPQ-P showed fair to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.42 to 0.98). The 5 constructs in CPQ-P were found to have a good to excellent internal consistency (α = 0.612-0.963).
CONCLUSIONS: The CPQ-P is a valid and reliable tool for assessing lifestyle habits during pregnancy. The questionnaire can be used to identify areas where pregnant women may need additional support or intervention to adopt healthy behaviours and reduce the risk of adverse maternal and foetal outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05700136 (clinicaltrials.gov). Trial registration date: 26/01/2023.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases (Ovid Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Studies conducted in English and including measures on the perception of aging and quality of life were included in this review. A total of 32 observational studies (21 cross-sectional, 8 longitudinal, 2 mixed-method, and 1 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes reported in the included studies were quality of life, physical health and functioning, psychological health, mental health, and general well-being.
RESULTS: Overall, 20 quantitative studies indicated a strong association between positive perception of aging and increased quality of life. Similarly, 9 quantitative studies demonstrated that negative perception of aging is associated with lower quality of life. Results of the mixed-method and qualitative studies indicated that older adults with higher morale and good physical capability had more positive perceptions of health.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These results suggest that promoting a positive perception of aging and a self-care attitude would help to enhance older adults' quality of life and should be incorporated into future health promotions and interventions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, selfreported CVS and dry eye symptoms were compared between 80 breastfeeding and 72 non-breastfeeding VDU users. Two questionnaires were administered online, which were the CVS-Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, to evaluate symptoms of CVS and dry eye, respectively. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare CVS and OSDI scores between groups, while correlations between the scores were analyzed using Spearman's test.
RESULT: Results showed that OSDI scores were significantly higher in the non-breastfeeding group (U = 2263, z-score = - 2.276, p = 0.023), indicating more dry eye symptoms experienced by respondents in this group, while no significant group difference was found in terms of CVS scores (U = 2772, z-score = -0.400, p = 0.689). Additionally, no significant association was observed between breastfeeding status and severity of dry eye symptoms as well as CVS symptoms.
CONCLUSION: This study reported the possible benefit of breastfeeding in reducing dry eye symptoms. The CVS symptoms found in the breastfeeding group were possibly due to VDU usage rather than caused by breastfeeding. Public education on preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of CVS symptoms and ocular dryness among VDU users is essential to improve the quality of life.
METHODS: This study used the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ- 5D-5L) tool during the COVID-19 pandemic to examine relationships between socio-demographics, knowledge, and attitudes towards education and outcomes of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Between September and October 2020 and January and February 2021, a cross-sectional study using a multi-stage sampling technique was carried out.
RESULTS: A total of 1,997 adults participated, with a mean age of 45.17 (SD 14.113). In total, 74.9% had good knowledge, while 59.8% had a positive attitude towards skill education. In univariate analyses, the EQ-5D-5L score was related to age, income, education level, marital status, employment status, financial strain level, and knowledge and attitude towards skilled education. Generalised linear model analyses demonstrated that lower EQ-5D-5L scores were associated with older age, financial constraints, and a negative attitude towards skills education. However, additional adjustments for knowledge and attitude towards skills education show only an increase in age and financial strain was significant.
CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that appropriate strategies be implemented to increase low-income populations' knowledge and attitude towards skill education. Improving education may improve the quality of life for this vulnerable group. Additionally, a qualitative study can be conducted to determine the barriers to low-income households participating in skilled education to fill in the knowledge gap.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 inpatient substance abusers post detoxification in Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan, participated in this study. Fountain House was selected as the Minnesota model is primarily used there. Therefore, a new treatment approach was introduced to investigate its effectiveness for individuals with substance abuse. A randomized 12-week trial was conducted as a substance use disorders (SUDs) treatment program. Persons with SUD (i.e., identified patients) enrolled in a residential treatment program were randomized into the integrated model of the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and traditional Minnesota model treatment (n = 30), and traditional Minnesota model treatment only (TMM; n = 30). All the participants in the experimental group attended the group therapy sessions and other activities in the facility in addition to the treatment conditions. The participants attended the individual therapeutic sessions, which were conducted according to the CRA guidelines used in the experimental group. In this study, each individual in the CRA treatment group received 12 one-to-one sessions ranging from 45 min to 1 h. The WHOQOL-BREF scale and Happiness Scale (1) were used for data collection.
RESULT: The results showed a significant increase in the quality of life of participants in the treatment group with CRA compared with the control group with TMM. The findings also indicated that the individuals in the treatment group with CRA had improved levels of happiness compared with individuals with TMM.
DISCUSSION: The CRA is an effective and adaptable treatment approach that works well in combination with other treatment approaches. The proven efficacy, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness distinguish it from other treatment methods.
IMPLICATIONS: The CRA should be adapted, assessed, and evaluated further, especially in Pakistan, where there is a pressing need to adopt an effective treatment strategy for addiction problems.
METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre. A total of 30 patients who have undergone total laryngectomy were assessed objectively using the Sniffin' Sticks test and compared against normal age-matched Malaysians. Subsequently, they also filled out the modified Questionnaire on Olfactory Disorders. Correlations of patient demographics, disease and treatment variables against olfactory outcomes were conducted.
RESULTS: All subjects suffered olfactory impairment, with 66.7% of them being anosmic after total laryngectomy. The Sniffin' Sticks test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between laryngectomees and the normal age-matched Malaysian population in all three subtests for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. 37% of patients developed olfactory adaptive methods, which resulted in higher olfactory scores and a better quality of life. There were no patient demographics, disease or treatment variables associated with a poorer olfactory outcome identified.
CONCLUSION: Olfactory impairment should not be overlooked among patients after total laryngectomy. Although as many as a third of patients developed some sort of olfactory adaptive behavior, early rehabilitation should be integrated into the multidisciplinary rehabilitation program after total laryngectomy.