Quality of Life Studies

QUALITY OF LIFE IN AN URBAN VILLAGE : Shakarpur (khas), Delhi, India...

by Anuj Kumar Soni

DISSERTATION

The fast growing city of Delhi is forgetting something behind it. Urban villages of Delhi are thrown
aside in the... more The fast growing city of Delhi is forgetting something behind it. Urban villages of Delhi are thrown
aside in the race. This unparalleled growth of Delhi has lost the vast agricultural land. In this process,
villages lost their identity, space and value as they became dependent upon urban areas. Their
presence is getting lost in the crowd of Delhi. City and villages are growing parallel trying to contrast
with each other, still in the different perspective. Identity of villages has been lost and they are denied
by the city as unwanted. City underestimates the people and culture of these areas. These villages lack
healthy living conditions with proper light and ventilation and growth. Villages are destroying
themselves in lack of proper guidance and education. My study is concerned with exploring the role
of an Urban Village in Delhi. My research is concerned about the quality of life of people living in an
Urban Village and their existence in the city.

The efficacy of dance movement therapy group on improvement of quality of life: A randomized controlled trial

by Iris Bräuninger

Bräuninger, I. (In Press). The Arts in Psychotherapy. Accepted Manuscript, Available online 29 March 2012. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2012.03.008

Abstract
This study examines the treatment outcome of a 10 weeks dance movement therapy intervention on Quality... more Abstract
This study examines the treatment outcome of a 10 weeks dance movement therapy intervention on Quality of life (QOL). The multicentered study used a between subject-design with pre-test, post-test, and six months follow-up test. 162 participants who suffered from stress were randomly assigned to the dance movement therapy treatment group (TG) (n= 97) and the wait-listed control group (WG) (65). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire 100 (WHOQOL-100) and Munich Life Dimension List were used in both groups at all three measurement points. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that dance movement therapy participants in all QOL dimensions always more than the WG. In the short term, they significantly improved in the Psychological domain (p>.001, WHOQOL; p>.01, Munich Life Dimension List), Social relations/life (p>.10, WHOQOL; p>.10, Munich Life Dimension List), Global value (p>.05, WHOQOL), Physical health (p>.05, Munich Life Dimension List), and General life (p>.10, Munich Life Dimension List). In the long term, dance movement therapy significantly enhanced the psychological domain  (p>.05, WHOQOL; p>.05, Munich Life Dimension List), Spirituality (p>.10, WHOQOL), and General life (p>.05, Munich Life Dimension List). Dance movement therapy is effective in the short- and long-term to improve QOL.
Keywords: Dance therapy, Dance movement therapy, Research, Quality of Life (QOL), Randomized controlled trial, Treatment outcome and Efficacy.

Vilhauer, R.P. (2008). A qualitative study of the experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer. Palliative and Supportive Care 6(3): 249-258.

by Ruvanee Vilhauer

Contact vilhauerr@felician.edu for the manuscript.

ABSTRACT


Objective: My objective was to investigate the experiences of women diagnosed with... more ABSTRACT


Objective: My objective was to investigate the experiences of women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

Method: I did a qualitative study based on interview data. Fourteen women with metastatic breast cancer were recruited into a larger study of online support group use. Participants were interviewed by phone.

Results: The women indicated that they experience distress because of concerns about body image, declines in aspects of their sexual lives, and worries about the effect of stress on their illness. The stress that worries these women comes from fear of dying, fear of disease progression and debilitation, the loss of their future, and practical concerns. The women were also likely to experience a decline in daily activity after being diagnosed with metastatic disease. They become less active because of the physical symptoms of the illness and the side effects of treatments, the medicalization of their lifestyle, their desire to avoid stressful situations, the constraints imposed by their social world, and the need to maintain disability benefits. Although women are often in need of emotional and material support from others after they are diagnosed, social support can decrease, both because women find it difficult to be open about the difficulties they face and because the responses of others are not adequately supportive. Distress and declines in daily activity and social support can feed into each other to create a vicious circle.

Significance of results: This paper makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing a rich description of how metastatic breast cancer affects women. Further research, with more diverse samples, is needed in this understudied area.

The role of religious beliefs and spirituality on the quality of life of rare diseases patients

by Salomea Popoviciu

Co-authored with Delia Birle, Ioan Popoviciu & Serban Olah

This study explored the relationship between religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs and the quality of life of... more This study explored the relationship between religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs and the quality of life of Romanian rare disease patients. Specifically, the study, firstly, analyzed the correlations between self-reported life satisfaction and participants’ beliefs in heaven, afterlife and God. Secondly, correlations between self-reported optimism and participants’ belief in the role of spirituality and life meaning were studied. Thirdly, the relationship between self-reported health and church attendance, importance of church and importance God for Romanian rare disease patients were examined. Implications for social workers, counselors and health providers were also discussed.

Research methods in health

by Ann Bowling

Qual o valor da Qualidade de Vida? Um contributo e várias conjecturas metodológicas

by Pedro Serrano Gomes

BELBUTE, José; João MARQUES; Cristina GOMES; Jorge CARVALHO; Eduardo CASTRO; Maria PINTO; Pedro GOMES and Carina PAIS. ‘Qual o valor da Qualidade de Vida? Um contributo e várias conjecturas metodológicas’. In Actas do 1.º Congresso de Ciência Regional de Cabo Verde / 2.º Congresso Lusófono de Ciência Regional / 15.º Congresso da APDR / 3.º Congresso de Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, pp. 4039-4056. Praia, Cabo Verde, 06-11 July de 2009.

Este estudo apresenta o fundamental da metodologia já desenvolvida até este momento pela equipa para a valoração, em... more Este estudo apresenta o fundamental da metodologia já desenvolvida até este momento pela equipa para a valoração, em termos monetários, de algumas dimensões da Qualidade de Vida (QdV), no âmbito do projecto FCT “Custos e Benefícios, à escala local, de uma Ocupação Dispersa”. Esta valoração constitui uma peça fundamental no estudo já que se refere à componente dos benefícios que as famílias, as empresas e as instituições parecem procurar quando tomam decisões de localização.
O estudo tenta aferir a QdV a partir das preferências declaradas para obter a disponibilidade em pagar (Willingness to Pay) expressa pelos indivíduos para aceitar melhorar as suas “circunstâncias” (ou para evitar uma perda) ou o a sua disponibilidade em receber (Willingness to Accept) uma compensação para aceitar reduzir as suas “circunstâncias” (ou para prescindir de um benefício).
Dada a natureza multidimensional, complexa e dinâmica do conceito de QdV, o estudo concentra a sua atenção num conjunto de 6 atributos (com duas concretizações cada, combinados dois a dois) associáveis a pedaços urbanos abstractos. As várias combinações possíveis são reduzidas após a aplicação do “quadrado latino” e forma a gerar 16 “conjuntos urbanos tipo” (também designados de “pedaços urbanos”) a partir dos quais se tentará valorar, em termos monetários, o correspondente “benefício”.
Com este procedimento, o estudo procura dar um contributo para o desenho de políticas públicas neste domínio procurando fornecer critérios técnicos robustos de escolha, de decisão e de acção, aos decisores com responsabilidade na gestão do território local.

HYUN HARWELL BUHALIS Chapter 19 Soo Hyun eta al 2012

by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Soo Hyun Jun , Heather J. Hartwell , and Dimitrios Buhalis 2012 in Chapter 19
Impacts of the Internet on Travel Satisfaction
and Overall Life Satisfaction, Uysal, M., R. Perdue and J. Sirgy. (Eds) (2012). Handbook of Tourism and Quality-of-Life Research: Enhancing the Lives of Tourists and Residents of Host Communities. The Netherlands, Springer, Dordrecht, 702 pages, Hardcover, ISBN 978-94-007-2287-3

Soo Hyun Jun , Heather J. Hartwell , and Dimitrios Buhalis 2012
Impacts of the Internet on Travel... more Soo Hyun Jun , Heather J. Hartwell , and Dimitrios Buhalis 2012
Impacts of the Internet on Travel Satisfaction
and Overall Life Satisfaction, Chapter 19 in Uysal, M., R. Perdue and J. Sirgy. (Eds) (2012). Handbook of Tourism and Quality-of-Life Research: Enhancing the Lives of Tourists and Residents of Host Communities. The Netherlands, Springer, Dordrecht, 702 pages, Hardcover, ISBN 978-94-007-2287-3

This chapter proposed two conceptual models which explored the impact of the Internet on travel satisfaction and overall life satisfaction. The first model (Fig. 19.4 ) focused on the Internet role when it was considered as a tool for travel planning at a pretrip stage, and the second model (Fig. 19.5 ) focused on the Internet role when it was considered as a social platform on a Web 2.0 environment where people shared travel information after a trip, communicated, and socialized

with others. This chapter found two signifi cant roles of the Internet in satisfaction formation and satisfaction modifi cation (Fig. 19.6 ). In terms of satisfaction formation, the greater amount of transparent and reliable information collected through the Internet at the pretrip stage helps individuals adjust expectations to be realistic, and the realistic expectation leads to reduce the negative satisfaction disconfi rmation and maintain a higher level of satisfaction. In terms of satisfaction
modifi cation, postconsumption experiences at the social platform reconstruct previous memories
and accordingly modify satisfaction. The modifi ed satisfaction eventually infl uences overall life satisfaction.

This chapter contributes to the QOL research because it suggests the alternative independent variables of travel satisfaction and overall life satisfaction, which are in fi ve need constructs and can be measured through survey research methods. Future studies should be conducted to test the two proposed models. The proposed models in this chapter focus on pretrip behavior and posttrip behavior. However, the Internet with mobile technology and location-based technology is increasingly
playing a signifi cant role in travel satisfaction at the during-trip stage. Future study should be conducted to explore the Internet role at this stage and its impacts on travel satisfaction and overall life satisfaction.

Measuring Urban Quality of Life in Istanbul Metropolitan Area

by Fatih Terzi

Handan Turkoglu, Perver Koca Baran, Robert W. Marans, Fulin Bolen and Fatih Terzi

Turkoglu, H., Baran, P.K., Marans, W.R., Bölen, F., Terzi, F. (2009). Measuring Urban Quality of Life in Istanbul Metropolitan Area, IAPS-CSBE Culture&Space in the Built Environment Network and the IAPS - Housing Network: Revitalising Built Environments: Requalifying Old Places for New Uses, 12-16 October, 2009. ITU-Taskisla-Istanbul,Turkey.

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University 34437, Taskisla, Taksim Istanbul, Turkey.

Tel: +90 212 2931300; ext2811
Fax: +90 212 2514895
E-mail: terzifati@itu.edu.tr

Bone density, balance and quality of life of postmenopausal women taking alendronate participating in different physical activity programs

by Mauro Carvalho

Authors: Cláudio Joaquim Borba-Pinheiro, Mauro César Gurgel de Alencar Carvalho, Nádia Souza Lima da Silva, Alexandre Janotta Drigo, Jani Cléria Pereira Bezerra and Estélio Henrique Martin Dantas

Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease published online 17 June 2010. DOI: 10.1177/1759720X10374677

Keywords: bisphosphonate, bone density, exercise, menopause, postural balance, quality of life.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different physical activity (PA) programs on... more Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different physical activity (PA) programs on bone density, balance and quality of life of postmenopausal women
taking concomitant alendronate. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 35 volunteers divided into four groups: practitioners of resistance training (RTG, n¼9, 49.8±4.2 years), judo (JUG, n¼11, 52.2±5.3 years), water aerobics (WAG, n¼8, 57.1±7.4 years) and the control group (CG, n¼7, 53.8±4.4 years). Methods: The following assessment tools were used: bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry of the spine and proximal femur, the ‘Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire’ (OPAQ) and the ‘Static Balance Test with Visual Control’. The physical activities
were planned for 12 months in cycles with different intensities. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for analysis between groups, and a Scheffe´ post-hoc test was used for
multiple comparisons. Results: The multiple comparisons results showed that the RTG and JUG groups were significantly
more efficient in the variables studied, including: lumbar BMD (%¼6.8%, p¼0.001), balance (%¼21.4%, p¼0.01), OPAQ (%¼9.1%, p¼0.005) and lumbar BMD (%¼6.4%, p¼0.003), balance (%¼14%, p¼0.02) and OPAQ (%¼16.8%, p¼0.000) compared with the CG. Furthermore, the RTG (%¼4.8%, p¼0.02) was significantly better than the WAG for the neck of femur BMD, and the JUG (%¼16.8, p¼0.0003) also demonstrated superiority to the WAG in the OPAQ. Conclusions: The physical activities studied appear to improve BMD, balance and quality of life of postmenopausal women taking a bisphosphonate. In this small sample, the RTG and the JUG groups were superior to the other groups.

The Time That Remains: Organ Donation, Temporal Duration, and Kazuo Ishiguro's *Never Let Me Go*

by Matthew Eatough

Published in *Literature and Medicine* 29.1

This essay examines Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go in the light of recent studies focusing on organ... more This essay examines Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go in the light of recent studies focusing on organ recipients’ quality of life. These quality of life studies assess the desirability of costly and painful surgeries such as organ transplantation by determining the effect that they will have on patients’ perceived quality of life. This essay shows how quality of life studies’ methodology shares the same formal structures of knowledge as Ishiguro’s Bildungsroman. In particular, the use of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) to calculate patients’ quality of life demonstrates the same assumptions about the body, professionalization, and Bildung that can be found in Ishiguro’s novel. I argue that in both quality of life studies and Never Let Me Go the body functions as a concrete measure of time available to an individual, and that this time is specifically allotted for the pursuit of vocational aspirations. In this context, I propose that affective labor plays a constitutive role in making patients indifferent to their bodies and in encouraging investments in professional achievement.

Social support network structure in older people: underlying dimensions and association with psychological and physical health

by Ronan Conroy

Developing affordable housing design for low income in Sana’a, Yemen

by WA'EL ALAGHBARI

Wa'el Alaghbari, Azizah Salim, Kamariah Dola, Abang Abdullah Abang Ali, (2011) "Developing affordable housing design for low income in Sana'a, Yemen", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 4 Iss: 1, pp.84 - 98

Abstract
Purpose –
Housing costs are very high in Yemen compared with Middle East countries, which caused... more Abstract
Purpose –
Housing costs are very high in Yemen compared with Middle East countries, which caused a shortage of housing supply especially for low-income groups. This paper aims to develop affordable housing design for people with low income and to examine their ability to afford houses in Sana’a, Yemen.

Design/methodology/approach –
Two different questionnaires were used to achieve the study objectives. The first one was to examine the requirements and needs of low-income groups, while the second was to analyze the feedback of professionals in relevant housing authorities in Sana’a. An affordable house design methodology was used to design alternatives of low-income housing in order to minimize cost and environmental impact while maximizing the social acceptability in housing projects.

Findings –
The results show that the low-income group can afford new houses in Sana’a in consideration of the following: constructing multi-storey housing units such as apartment system through using the concrete frame structure and building the internal and external walls with concrete blocks with limited areas (65-120) square meters.

Originality/value –
The findings could be used to improve housing affordability through housing policies in Yemen in order to decrease the housing shortage particularly for the low-income group.

Keywords: Housing, Prices, Low pay, Yemen
Paper type: Research paper

Health Problems and Health-Related Quality of Life In People With Multiple Sclerosis

by Peter Griffiths

Stop Smoking within USAMV Cluj-Napoca and All Romanian University campuses and Anywhere in the World – for a Sustainable Romania and Development – The Human and His Decisions is the Most Contaminating Aggregate (Romanian language article with English abstract)

by Adrian Toader-Williams

Author: Adrian Toader-Williams
Keywords: Stop smoking, university campus, Romania, economy, ecology, sustainable development, public health, world economy, personal health, efficiency, academic performance, public policy, law, terms conditions, human mind, bureaucracy, interests, education, life sciences, research, tobacco, natural resources, campaign, Global impact, 31 may, WHO, World Health Organization, OMS, Organizaţia Mondială a Sănătăţii, FĂ FIECARE ZI  ZIUA MONDIALĂ FĂRĂ TUTUN, Make Every Day World No Tobacco Day, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, USAMV Cluj-Napoca,

The article is in Romanian language and it marks the beginning of Stop Smoking campaign within the University campuses... more The article is in Romanian language and it marks the beginning of Stop Smoking campaign within the University campuses in Romania, starting with the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. It encourages students and professors to stop smoking on the campus and anywhere. The essential purpose of an educational institution, of a university is to prepare professionals. USAMV Cluj-Napoca being a Life Sciences University has a more accentuated obligation not to only research Life Sciences but also to protect Human Life and its Human Condition. Healthy professionals are a better, sustainable investment. Stopping smoking assures public health, reduces public expenditures and wasted natural resources. Therefore, smoking has a huge negative impact upon the Global Ecological and Economical problems given the inter-dependence of resources and of the negative outcomes of tobacco consumption. The article is also an invitation to observe 31-st of May as the „Make Every Day World No Tobacco Day” initiated recently by the World Health Organization (WHO). The article calls for initiating in Romania such campaign and the 31-st of May to be a day to celebrate the success. Lots of resistance / opposition / arguments have been met from the newspaper’s staff in order to have the article published in the USAMV Newsletter. It was called as being a campaign and the paper’s policy does not support any campaign and concentrates on informative articles. Ironically, on the cover of the same paper (issue nr. 21, February 2011) the administration published a campaign for „Mărţişor”. Several other conflicting and non-sense arguments were sent to me. To mention sadly, it is very difficult to lunch an initiative in Romania. The article in essence, using Romanian language says: Recent, Organizaţia Mondială a Sănătăţii (WHO),  a declarat 31 Mai a fi ziua Mondială împotriva fumatului. Numită „FĂ FIECARE ZI  ZIUA MONDIALĂ FĂRĂ TUTUN,.”  USAMV Cluj-Napoca poate pre-întâmpina ziua de 31 mai dând un exemplu în rândul universităţilor din România.
The electronic version as PDF (see page 15) has been hardly sent to me by papers staff and here I made it available to you for download. I invite readers to take a stand and send to the University a paper letter via regular /registered mail and express your point of view. It is a beginning of a major project and I need any possible support from allover the World and from Romania as well. It is not a domestic concern; it is not a national concern. It has a Global Impact as the borders that divide us are just symbolic. Thank you.

Pregled Nekih Istrazivanja U Kontekstu Subjektivne Dobrobiti

by Maja Tadic

Drustvena istrazivanja: Journal for General Social Issues, Vol.19 No.1-2 (105-106) May 2010.

Subjective well-being is a broad area of scientific interest,
which has been increasingly occupying the attention... more Subjective well-being is a broad area of scientific interest,
which has been increasingly occupying the attention of
researchers for the past thirty years. It refers to a general
assessment of satisfaction with life, as well as emotional
reactions and satisfaction with various aspects of life.
Research on subjective well-being typically involves a
scientific analysis of how people evaluate their life, both for
the current situation, and for longer periods of time. The importance of subjective well-being research is illustrated by
the data that indicates the advantages of experiencing
positive emotions, such as fostering the quality of social
relations, creativity, and psychological resources of the
individual. This paper discusses the conceptual definition of
subjective well-being, different theoretical perspectives and
approaches, as well as the dominant topic in contemporary
research.

Development and validation of a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: the GERD-QOL questionnaire

by Saskia Polder-Verkiel

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 452–460, February 2010

Background  A simple and meaningful health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux... more Background  A simple and meaningful health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients is lacking.

Aim  To develop and validate a disease-specific HRQoL instrument (GERD-QOL) for GERD patients.

Methods  An 18-item questionnaire was generated to measure the impact of GERD on sleep, exercise, diet, need for medication, sex life, work, social activity and psychological well-being. GERD patients were invited to complete the GERD-QOL, a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a validated Chinese generic QoL (SF-36) questionnaire before and after esomeprazole treatment. Factor analysis was performed for item selection and psychometric properties were measured. An English version was developed by a forward-backward translation process.

Results  A final 16-item GERD-QOL questionnaire was developed. The items were grouped into four subscales (Daily activity, Treatment effect, Diet, and Psychological well-being) after factor analysis. GERD-QOL had good item-internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.64–0.88), high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.73–0.94, P < 0.001). Its subscale scores were correlated with SF-36 and VAS, which demonstrated high construct validity (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was verified by correlating GERD-QOL scores with symptom severity (P < 0.001). Responsiveness after esomeprazole treatment was significant (paired-t-test P < 0.001). An English version of GERD-QOL was developed.

Conclusion  The instrument, GERD-QOL, is valid and reliable.