• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.138-145
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the audiologic results after cochlear implantation (CI) in older patients and the degree of improvement in their quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent CI at implant center in Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were included in this study (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). The control group was patient over 65 years old with normal hearing (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). We administered three questionnaires [World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD (WHOQOL-OLD)], and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate the QoL, CIrelated effects on activities of daily life, and social activities in all the subjects. Moreover, correlations between speech recognition and the QoL scores were evaluated. The duration of implant use and comorbidities were also examined as potential factors affecting QoL. Results: The patients had remarkable improvements (the mean score of postoperative speech perception 75.7%) in speech perception after CI. The scores for the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire responses were similar in both the study and control groups, except those for a two subdomains (social relations and social participation). The patients with longer-term CI had higher scores than those with short-term CI use. In general, the changes in GDS scores were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of hearing loss with CI conferred significant improvement in patient's QoL (p<0.01). The evaluation of QoL can provide multidimensional insights into a geriatric patient's progress and, therefore, should be considered by audiologists.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.138-145
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the audiologic results after cochlear implantation (CI) in older patients and the degree of improvement in their quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent CI at implant center in Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were included in this study (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). The control group was patient over 65 years old with normal hearing (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). We administered three questionnaires [World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD (WHOQOL-OLD)], and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate the QoL, CIrelated effects on activities of daily life, and social activities in all the subjects. Moreover, correlations between speech recognition and the QoL scores were evaluated. The duration of implant use and comorbidities were also examined as potential factors affecting QoL. Results: The patients had remarkable improvements (the mean score of postoperative speech perception 75.7%) in speech perception after CI. The scores for the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire responses were similar in both the study and control groups, except those for a two subdomains (social relations and social participation). The patients with longer-term CI had higher scores than those with short-term CI use. In general, the changes in GDS scores were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of hearing loss with CI conferred significant improvement in patient's QoL (p<0.01). The evaluation of QoL can provide multidimensional insights into a geriatric patient's progress and, therefore, should be considered by audiologists.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Objectives: The current study aims to examine whether the influence of National Long-term Care Insurance(NLCI) on the quality of life(QoL) trajectory of older adults with disabilities is more positive than its influence on those without disabilities. Methods: Sample consisted of 5,362 elderly aged 65 and over who participated in the Korean Welfare Panel Study from Wave1 to Wave7. Data were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling. Results: Major findings are as follows. (1) Before the NLCI, the trajectories of QoL between older adults with disabilities and those without were same. (2) After the NLCI, elders with disabilities showed lower levels of QoL at the beginning, but the gaps gradually decreased with time. These results indicate that the implementation of NLCI more positively affected elders with disabilities than those without disabilities. Conclusions: These results suggest that the NLCI functions properly as one of social security nets to cope with the needs of older adults with disabilities. In conclusion, it is critical to develop a sustainable NLCI system to enhance the QoL of older adults with disabilities.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.514-525
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct and test a structural equation model for Diabetes self-management (DSM) behavior and Quality of life (QoL) in older adults with diabetes who use Citizen Health Promotion Centers. The theory used this study was a combination of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Model (IMB) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to reflect autonomous characteristics of participants. Methods: Data were collected from April 20 to August 31, 2015 using a self-report questionnaire. The sample was 205 patients with type 2 Diabetes who regularly visited a Citizen Health Promotion Center. SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 programs were used to analyze the efficiency of the hypothesized model and calculate the direct and indirect effects of factor affecting the participants' DSM behavior and QoL. Results: The supported hypotheses were as follows; 1) The variable that had a direct effect on QoL was health behavior adherence (${\gamma}=.55$, p=.007). 2) The variables that had a direct effect on DSM behavior were DSM information (${\gamma}=.15$, p=.023), DSM confidence (${\gamma}=.25$, p<.001), and autonomous motivation (${\gamma}=.13$, p=.048). 3) The variable that had a direct effect on DSM confidence was autonomy support (${\gamma}=.33$, p<.001). Conclusion: The major findings of this study are that supporting patient's autonomous motivation is an influential predictor for adherence to DSM behavior, and integrative intervention strategies which include knowledge, experience and psychosocial support are essential for older adults with diabetes to continue DSM behavior and improve QoL.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-239
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• 2023

Objective: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may experience reduced physical activity and quality of life (QoL) due to decreased pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of pulmonary function, physical activity, and QoL of COPD patients. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: This study examined the published data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015-2019. Among 39,759 subjects who participated for 5 years, data from 151 patients diagnosed with COPD were analyzed separately. For the pulmonary function, the results of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV6, forced expiratory flow 25-75%, and peak expiratory flow were observed. Physical activity was identified as frequency and duration. For the QoL, EQ-5D-3L evaluation results were examined, and the frequency and index of the Korean version were investigated. Results: In pulmonary function, all variables were found to be lower than age and weighted matched normal values. COPD patients showed to perform very low levels of high/medium physical activity and sitting time was confirmed to be more than 8 hours a day. In QoL, it was found that the highest reporting rate of some problems was the "pain and discomfort" and "mobility". Conclusions: It was found that COPD patients showed that the prevalence of circulatory disease was relatively high, lowered pulmonary function, and QoL. These can be improved through regular physical activity, and it is thought that this can be achieved through optimization of pulmonary rehabilitation.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-26
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of life (QoL) of elderly women and the effect of social support on their QoL. The data were used 'urvey on the Elderly in 2011', which was held from 'Ministry of Health & Welfare' and 'Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs'. Among the total 15,146 respondents, 3,880 of elderly women whose age was over 65, and who did not live together with their married children were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analysis and path analysis were used to analyze the research model. The findings were as follows. First, from the fact that the elderly women showed the highest mean in 'contact frequency with friends' among social support, it seemed that the elderly women contacted their friends more than their children in their old age. Among the support types from their children, elderly women received emotional support, physical support, instrumental support in order and irregular cash as a way of economic support. Second, from the regression results, the most critical factor that affected the QoL of elderly women was 'subjective physical condition level' and 'subjective standard of living' comes next. Third, the most important factor was 'subjective standard of living' from path analysis results, and 'subjective physical condition level' and 'total amount of annual income' in order. Also, social supports such as 'phone call contact frequency with children', 'emotional support from children', phone call contact frequency with relatives', 'phone call contact frequency with friends' positively affected the QoL of elderly women. Therefore, raising social supports from children, relatives, and friends positively contributes to improve the QoL of elderly women directly and indirectly. The results show that social supporters, which is a part of the structural aspects of social support, and types of social support, which lies in functional aspects, directly affect QoL of the elderly women and turn out to be factors that improve the QoL as mediating variables. It is concluded that the social supports can be the most important resources that make up declining personal and social resources in old age and maintain the QoL of elderly women.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.163-176
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the anxiety, depression, uncertainty, social support, and QoL and to identify the factors influencing QoL in women with thyroid cancer. A descriptive survey was performed from April to October in 2014 with self-reporting questionnaires for depression, uncertainty, social support, and QoL. Participants were 106 women with thyroid cancer who visited a outpatient department of endocrine surgery in a hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. As the results of this study, the mean scores of global QoL were moderate. Anxiety was significantly influenced physical functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning. Uncertainty was significantly influenced physical functioning and cognitive functioning. Therefore, from the results of this study, nursing practice focused on anxiety and uncertainty relieving care for female thyroid cancer patients to improving QoL. And also, in order to understand the QoL of women with thyroid cancer, it is necessary to deeply understand the QoL through qualitative and quantitative research to determine the QoL by treatment period and treatment type.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.695-701
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• 2014

The main objective of palliative treatment for cancer patients has been to maintain, if not improve, the quality of life (QoL). There is a lack of local data on satisfaction and QoL among cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in Malaysia. This study covers patients with incurable, progressive cancer disease receiving palliative treatment in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, comparing the different components of QoL and correlations with patient satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey using Malay validated SF36 QoL and PSQ-18 (Short Form) tools was carried out between July 2012 -January 2013 with 120 cancer patients receiving palliative treatment, recruited into the study after informed consent using convenient sampling. Results showed that highest satisfaction were observed in Communication Aspect ($50.6{\pm}9.07$) and the least in General Satisfaction ($26.4{\pm}5.90$). The Mental Component Summary ($44.9{\pm}6.84$) scored higher when compared with the Physical Component Summary ($42.2{\pm}7.91$). In this study, we found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect (r=0.232). A poor significant negative correlation was found in Physical Component (technical quality, r=-0.312). The Mental Component showed there was a poor negative correlation between time spent with doctor (r=-0.192) and accessibility, (r=-0.279). We found that feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort. More studyis needed to investigate patients who score poorly on physical and mental component aspects to understand their needs in order to achieve better cancer care.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Background: Several previous studies have reported that quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis patients affects mortality. However, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, which has been used mainly in previous studies, is complicated in terms of questionnaire composition and interpretation. This study aimed to identify the impact of QoL on mortality in hemodialysis patients using an easier and simpler diagnostic tool. Methods: This retrospective study included 160 hemodialysis patients. QoL was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF). Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We also evaluated medical factors, such as dialysis adequacy and laboratory results. Results: The mean hemodialysis vintage was 70.7±38.0 months. The proportion of patients who were elderly was higher in the mortality group than in the surviving group, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index score was also higher in the former group. Of the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, the physical health and psychological scores of the mortality group were significantly lower than those of the survival group. When the score in the physical health domain or psychological domain was ≤10, the 10-year mortality rate after hemodialysis initiation increased by approximately 2.3- and 2-fold, respectively. Conclusion: QoL may have a significant effect on mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The WHOQOL-BREF is an instrument that can measure QoL relatively easily and can be used to improve the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to construct a structural equation model to explain and predict factors affecting the health-related quality of life (QoL) in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on the health-related QoL model by Ferrans et al. (2005) and a literature review. Methods: Patients (N=243) who were either registered members of an internet cafe composed of patients with RA or rheumatology outpatients at two tertiary general hospitals in Busan, Korea, were recruited via convenience sampling. Data were collected from July 2 to September 9, 2021, and the survey was conducted using a web-based questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS and AMOS 26.0. Results: The goodness-of-fit statistics of the final model exhibited good results (χ²/degree of freedom=2.68, Turker-Lewis index=.94, comparative fit index=.96, standardized root mean-squared residual=.04, root mean- square error of approximation=.08), and 11 out of 14 paths of the model were supported. The squared multiple correlation, which reflected the explanatory power of the environmental characteristics, symptoms, functional status, and perceived health status on health-related QoL, was 80%. In the hypothesis model, 10 paths had significant direct effects, 6 paths had significant indirect effects, and 12 paths had significant total (direct and indirect) effects. Conclusion: Considering that factors directly affecting the health-related QoL of female patients with RA were social support, symptoms (fatigue and depression), resilience, and perceived health status, and that resilience was the most influential factor, clinicians can encourage resilience. Hence, to improve the health-related QoL of female patients with RA, continuing management is necessary, using various intervention methods that focus on enhancing resilience from the early stage to the end of treatment for RA.