Cause of Death ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Mathematics ; Quality of Life ; Value of Life

No abstract available.
Quality of Life*

Automotive industry in Malaysia is one of the booming industries which encompass the design, development and manufacturing of motor vehicles. However, it has its own setback as the interaction between complex tools, machines, and instruments, coupled with humans as workers pose several health hazards. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and the association with awkward posture among automotive assembly line workers. A simple random sampling method was adopted and data were collected based on Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method for analysing awkward posture. With a response rate of 83%, a total of 232 assembly line workers with at least one year job tenure participated in this study. The fi ndings revealed that 78.4% of workers reported MSD while the highest percentage of complaints concerned the lower back (50.9%). Three factors were found to be signifi cantly associated with MSD: age (χ2 =5.61, p=0.018), job tenure (χ2 = 8.26, p=0.004) and awkward posture (χ2 = 65.37, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that signifi cant risk factors for MSD symptoms were workers aged ≥ 25 years old (OR= 2.25, 95%CI 1.14-4.46) and those workers with equal and more than three years job tenure (OR= 2.44, 95%CI 1.04-5.63). In addition, workers in the very high and high RULA action level who were 69 times (OR = 69.38, 95%CI 14.51- 331.73) and 12 times (OR = 12.42, 95%CI 5.21-29.58), respectively, also had higher odds of complaints of MSD. The high prevalence of MSD shows that MSD symptoms is a signifi cant problem among automotive assembly line workers while age, job tenure and awkward posture based on RULA action level are the signifi cant factors for MSD. In particular, this study proves that the prevalence of MSD increases as the RULA action level and job tenure increases. Thus, this problem could be reduced by decreasing RULA action level through appropriate ergonomic workstation design and ergonomic training for workers.
Quality of Life

Introduction: The evolution of cardiac pacing is expected to decrease the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but this type of intervention might affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and eventually the overall prognosis of the patient. This study assessed the HRQOL in patients with permanent pacemaker using Philippines (Tagalog) Short Form (SF)-36v2 health survey.Introduction:The evolution of cardiac pacing is expected to decrease the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but this type of intervention might affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and eventually the overall prognosis of the patient. This study assessed the HRQOL in patients with permanent pacemaker using Philippines (Tagalog) Short Form (SF)-36v2 health survey. Methods: A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted. Philippines (Tagalog) SF-36v2 health survey was administered among patients with permanent pacemaker who had their pacemaker analysis at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital from October to December 2015. The higher the score the better HRQOL and many studies used a cut-off point of 50. Pearson Correlation and Non-Parametric Mann-Whitney Tests were used in this study. Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled in this study. There were 24 male and 18 females with mean interval of age 71.48+12.3. Most of the HRQOL scores were lower than 50. The highest HRQOL scores were vitality and mental health aspect while the worst were role emotional and physical functional aspect. Age, educational attainment, type of permanent pacemaker, pacemaker dependency, NYHA (New York Heart Association) functional capacity and presence of co-morbidities particularly diabetes mellitus type 2 were significant factors for poor HRQOL. Conclusion This study showed that overall the HRQOL in patients with permanent pacemaker was below average. A comprehensive management in order to improve the HRQOL should be considered among patients with permanent pacemaker.
Quality of Life

Introduction: A prosthesis is an artificial assistive device designed to replace a missing body part (e.g., limb), secondary to a disease, injury or congenital deformities. Prostheses are often used to restore functional capacity while improving the quality of life (QoL). Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 19 to 64 years who were permanent residents in Luzon who had undergone unilateral lower leg amputation. This epidemiologic study employed the Modified Barthel Index for activities of daily living (ADLs), the Frenchay Activities Index for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and the WHOQOL-BREF for QoL. Descriptive and analytical statistics of the responses of the Lower Limb Amputees (LLA) were done. Prevalence odds ratio (POR) was calculated, and statistical significance was determined. Results: Among 165 LLA respondents, only 47.88% used prostheses. Unilateral LLA who exhibited greater independence in ADLs (POR=19.22), more actively performed IADLs (POR=5.51), and had good QoL (POR=3.83) were more likely to have been using prosthesis. All these findings were statistically significant. Conclusion This study revealed a statistically significant association between prosthesis use to the physical functioning and QoL among adult unilateral LLAs. It showed that prosthetic use was likely linked with improved performance in ADLs and IADLs, and better QoL compared to those without.
Quality of Life

Quality of Life

Background: Even though innumerable quality of life (QOL) questionnaires have been developed in palliative care, there is no gold standard assessment tool for QOL and no single questionnaire that fits all purposes and individuals. An important challenge to QOL assessments in palliative care is the highly diverse patient population with different diagnoses, disease states/prognosis, and languages. In an outpatient palliative care clinic population, FACIT-Pal-14 proved to be a valid and reliable scale in palliative care patients. Objectives: We aimed to (i) determine the psychometric properties of the Tagalog version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Palliative Care – 14 (FACIT-Pal-14) and (ii) measure the Quality of Life (QOL) of Filipino cancer patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. License for the use of the Tagalog version 4 of the FACIT-Pal-14 was requested from FACIT.org. To know the psychometric properties of the scales, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to assess reliability, and exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlations, and independent samples T-test were used to determine validity. Results: The Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14 was administered to 500 Filipino cancer patients consulting at the outpatient department of a training and regional medical center. The participants were mostly female (65.5%), aged 64 years and younger (82.6%), and had breast cancer (53.2%), colorectal cancer (19.2%), and lung cancer (9.4%). The mean Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14 score was 47.35 out of 56 (SD=7.14). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Tagalog version of FACIT-Pal-14 was 0.784. Significantly lower mean Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14 scores were found in patients with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) 70 and lower, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) 2 and above compared with patients with KPS 80 and higher and ECOG-PS 0-1. (t=3.439, p<.001). While the Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14 scores, KPS, and ECOG scores only revealed a very weak, positive correlation (r=0.095; p <0.05), this ability to distinguish between groups known to differ regarding performance status showed the construct validity of the Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14. Conclusions In an outpatient oncology clinic population, the FACIT-Pal 14 showed evidence of reliability and construct validity for evaluating palliative care-specific QOL in Filipino cancer patients. Using this measure, Filipino cancer patients have a good QOL. Therefore, it is recommended that the Tagalog FACIT-Pal-14 be used on subsequent patient follow-ups to assess how their QOL would change over time so that the palliative care services provided will be suited to their needs.
Quality of Life

Granulocytopenia, which can be seen in patients with Graves' disease during treatment with antithyroid agents, could be a self resolving transient episode or can imply the beginning of life threatening agranulocytosis requiring a change in treatment modality. Transient granulocytopenia could be a manifestation of hyperthyroidism itself, or a mild side effect of antithyroid drugs. Aganulocytosis is a rare, but major complications of the termination drug, propylthiouracil (PTU), requiring prompt termination of the medication, and intensive care. Therefore, differentiation of agranulocytosis and transient granulocytopenia, is important, but is not practically easy. We introduce a case of transient granulocytopenia, which was detected in a patient with Graves'Disease, accompanied by underlying type 1 diabetes mellitus, during treatment with PTU. Diagnosis of transient granulocytopenia was made by a normal granulocyte count following a single injection of G-SCF, and the patient was treated with conservative therapy. This case confirms a diagnostic tool for differentiating transient granulocytopenia and PTU-induced agranulocytosis.
Agranulocytosis* ; Antithyroid Agents ; Beginning of Human Life ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Granulocytes ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Critical Care ; Propylthiouracil

PURPOSE: This study has been designed to identify attitudes to euthanasia held by Korean nurses. METHOD: Data were collected through a survey, and the participants in the study were 234 Korean nurses. Convenience sampling method was used and analysis of the data was done with SPSS PC for descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. RESULTS: 1. The mean score for euthanasia was 2.80, and the sub dimension mean scores were, patients' rights, 3.24, quality of life, 2.78, respect for life, 2.68, medical ethics, 2.50. 2. With respect to the general characteristics of participants there were statistically significant difference in total score according to religion (P=.01), and degree of influence of religion on behavior (P=.00). 3. There were statistically significant difference in score of quality of life according to religion (P=.04), degree of influence of religion on behavior (P=.00), decisions in euthanasia (P=0.04), and legal permission (P=.04). 4. There was statistically significant difference in score of patient's right according to legal permission (P=.04). 5. There were statistically significant difference in the score of respect for life according to religion (P=.00), degree of influence of religion on behavior (P=.00), decision in euthnasia (P=.00), and legal permission (P=.00).
Ethics, Medical ; Euthanasia ; Euthanasia, Passive* ; Patient Rights ; Quality of Life ; Value of Life

Breast cancer is ranked number one from the ten most frequent cancers in female, Peninsular Malaysia. Various studies provide negative evidence on malignancies and one of the end results is impaired quality of life (QOL). Studies show lifestyle approaches are key factors in enhancing the QOL among cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to describe the lifestyle practices (LP) among breast cancer survivors (BCS) which consist of dietary intake, exercise habits, and stress management and to determine whether these practices have influence on the QOL among Malaysian BCS. This study adopts a cross-sectional study design using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 280 BCS from public and private hospitals throughout Peninsular Malaysia had participated. The questionnaire covers QOL and LP items which consist of dietary intake (consumption of high-fat food, high-fibre food, fruits and vegetables), exercise habits, and stress management. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were used to determine the relationship between LP and QOL. Mean age of the study sample was at 41 (SD=7.37). Majority of them were Malay (74%), 53% were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1 to 2 years whereas 54% were presented with stage 2 at diagnosis. There was a statistically significant difference (p< 0.05) in the overall quality of life score for the three LP groups (Better, No change, Worse). Malaysians’ BCS reported an improvement in LP and the enhancement in LP may result to better QOL outcomes.
Life Style ; Quality of Life ; Breast Neoplasms ; Survivors