During the past forty years, thousands of studies have been carried out on the subject of happiness. Some have explored the levels of happiness or dissatisfaction associated with typical daily ...activities, such as working, seeing friends, or doing household chores. Others have tried to determine the extent to which income, family, religion, and other factors are associated with the satisfaction people feel about their lives. The Gallup organization has begun conducting global surveys of happiness, and several countries are considering publishing periodic reports on the growth or decline of happiness among their people. One nation, tiny Bhutan, has actually made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy. How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond? In The Politics of Happiness, former Harvard president Derek Bok examines how governments could use the rapidly growing research data on what makes people happy--in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for all their citizens.
2009 Association of American University Presses Award for Jacket Design
In the 1990s, improving the quality of life became a primary focus and a popular catchphrase of the governments of New York and ...many other American cities. Faced with high levels of homelessness and other disorders associated with a growing disenfranchised population, then mayor Rudolph Giuliani led New York's zero tolerance campaign against what was perceived to be an increase in disorder that directly threatened social and economic stability. In a traditionally liberal city, the focus had shifted dramatically from improving the lives of the needy to protecting the welfare of the middle and upper classes—a decidedly neoconservative move.
In City of Disorder , Alex S. Vitale analyzes this drive to restore moral order which resulted in an overhaul of the way New York views such social problems as prostitution, graffiti, homelessness, and panhandling. Through several fascinating case studies of New York neighborhoods and an in-depth look at the dynamics of the NYPD and of the city's administration itself, Vitale explains why Republicans have won the last four New York mayoral elections and what the long-term impact Giuliani's zero tolerance method has been on a city historically known for its liberalism.
The study aims to systematically extract and analyse data about Quality of Life (QoL) in the transgender population. A systematic literature search and meta-analysis were conducted using the MEDLINE, ...EMBASE, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases, up to July 2017. Only English language quantitative studies, in adults, which reported the means for validated QoL measures were included. Random-effect meta-analysis was adopted to pool data and estimate the 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). From 94 potentially relevant articles, 29 studies were included within the review and data extraction for meta-analysis was available in 14 studies. The majority of the studies were cross-sectional, lacked controls and displayed moderate risk of bias. Findings from the systematic review suggested that transgender people display poor QoL, independent of the domain investigated. Pooling across studies showed that transgender people report poorer mental health QoL compared to the general population (−0.78, 95% CI = −1.08 to −0.48, 14 studies). However, meta-analysis in a subgroup of studies looking at QoL in participants who were exclusively post-CHT found no difference in mental health QoL between groups (−0.42, 95% CI = −1.15 to 0.31; 7 studies). There was insufficient data for a pre-treatment subgroup. Evidence suggests that transgender people have lower QoL than the general population. Some evidence suggests that QoL improves post-treatment. Better quality studies that include clearly defined transgender populations, divided by stage of gender affirming treatment and with appropriate matched control groups are needed to draw firmer conclusions.
This umbrella review appraised existing systematic reviews and meta‐analysis to establish the impact of periodontal disease and therapy on general and oral health‐related quality of life. A ...systematic electronic literature search was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA guideline up to January 2020 using PubMed, LIVIVO, EMBASE and OpenGrey (PROSPERO CRD 42020163831). Hand searching was performed through the reference lists of periodontal textbooks and related journals. All English language‐based systematic reviews and meta‐analysis that assessed the impact of periodontal disease and treatment interventions on general and oral health‐related quality of life were included. Overall, eight articles met the inclusion criteria and their methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR2 criteria. Two systematic reviews showed a significant impact of oral conditions on general health‐related quality of life, although the specific impact of periodontal disease remains inconclusive. Three systematic reviews established a negative impact of periodontal disease on oral health‐related quality of life. Another three systematic reviews concluded that periodontal treatment can improve oral health‐related quality of life. Oral conditions, like periodontal disease, can impact the general health‐related quality of life. Periodontal disease is negatively correlated with oral health‐related quality of life, although treatment interventions can improve self‐reported quality of life. In view of the heterogeneity of generic instruments currently utilized to assess the self‐reported quality of life of periodontal patients, the development of a general and oral health‐related quality of life instrument specific for periodontal disease is strongly recommended.
Background
The purpose of this study was to establish population‐based norms for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Head and Neck 35 (EORTC ...QLQ‐HN35) to be used as references to facilitate the interpretation of results from health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) studies of patients with head and neck cancer.
Methods
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30 (EORTC QLQ‐C30) and QLQ‐HN35 were sent to a random sample representing the Swedish general population.
Results
The response rate was 69% (1504 participants of 2200 invited). The scores for the QLQ‐C30 were comparable to previously published reference values. The reference values for the QLQ‐HN35 were low, indicating few head and neck‐specific problems in the population. For illustrative purposes, we also compared these reference values to our previously published HRQOL results obtained from patients with head and neck cancer at diagnosis and from 3‐year survivors.
Conclusion
These new reference values for EORTC QLQ‐HN35 may be useful in future HRQOL studies.
Purpose
Frailty is an important predictor of adverse health events in older people, and improving quality of life (QOL) is increasingly recognised as a focus for services in this population. This ...systematic review synthesised evidence of the relationship between frailty and QOL in community-dwelling older people, with an emphasis on how this relationship varied across QOL domains.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis. We searched five databases for reports of QOL in older people with frailty and included studies based on pre-defined criteria. We conducted meta-analyses comparing “frail” and “not frail” groups for each QOL scale where data were available. We compared pooled results to distribution-based and known-group differences to enhance interpretation. We summarised reported cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
Results
Twenty-two studies (24,419 participants) were included. There were medium or larger standardised mean differences for 24 of 31 QOL scales between frail and not frail groups, with worse QOL for frail groups. These scales encompassed constructs of health-related quality of life as well as psychological and subjective well-being. There were similar findings from mean difference meta-analyses and within-study analyses.
Conclusions
The association between frailty and lower QOL across a range of constructs is clear and often substantial. Future research should establish whether causal mechanisms link the constructs, which aspects of QOL are most important to older people with frailty, and investigate their tractability. Services focused on measuring and improving QOL for older people with frailty should be introduced.
Purpose Systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) differ from reviews of interventions and diagnostic test accuracy studies and are complex. In fact, conducting a review of one ...or more PROMs comprises of multiple reviews (i.e., one review for each measurement property of each PROM). In the absence of guidance specifically designed for reviews on measurement properties, our aim was to develop a guideline for conducting systematic reviews of PROMs. Methods Based on literature reviews and expert opinions, and in concordance with existing guidelines, the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) steering committee developed a guideline for systematic reviews of PROMs. Results A consecutive ten-step procedure for conducting a systematic review of PROMs is proposed. Steps 1-4 concern preparing and performing the literature search, and selecting relevant studies. Steps 5-8 concern the evaluation of the quality of the eligible studies, the measurement properties, and the interpretability and feasibility aspects. Steps 9 and 10 concern formulating recommendations and reporting the systematic review. Conclusions The COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews of PROMs includes methodology to combine the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties with the quality of the PROM itself (i.e., its measurement properties). This enables reviewers to draw transparent conclusions and making evidence-based recommendations on the quality of PROMs, and supports the evidence-based selection of PROMs for use in research and in clinical practice.
Background
The management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors, including the impact of oral health‐related quality of life ...(OHRQoL). Through this investigation we aim to assess the impact of OHRQoL played in a TMD‐afflicted individual.
Methods
Using keywords relevant to our research, such as “Oral health related quality of life,” “Oral hygiene,” “Temporomandibular joint” and “Temporomandibular disorders,” a comprehensive search across multiple online databases was carried out, yielding a total of 632 studies at the preliminary stage of the review. Modified New Castle Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of studies included.
Results
Eight studies were included in the review, out of which six were eligible for further meta‐analysis. The studies included in this review employed various OHRQoL measures, including the Oral Health Impact Profile—14 (OHIP—14), the Short‐Form 36 Health Survey (SF‐36) and the OHIP‐ 49. All the studies demonstrated significant effect of TMDs on the OHRQoL of the target population under study.
Conclusion
The impact of OHRQoL on the management of TMD was deemed to be significant. The comprehensive management of TMD should consider the impact of the condition on the individual's daily life and incorporate interventions that address both the physical and psychological aspects of the condition. By improving OqL, individuals with TMD can experience improved overall well‐being and quality of life.
There is an established literature on the symptoms and complications of COVID‐19 but the after‐effects of COVID‐19 are not well understood with few studies reporting persistent symptoms and quality ...of life. We aim to evaluate the pooled prevalence of poor quality of life in post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome (PCS) and conducted meta‐regression to evaluate the effects of persistent symptoms and intensive care unit (ICU) admission on the poor quality of life. We extracted data from observational studies describing persistent symptoms and quality of life in post‐COVID‐19 patients from March 10, 2020, to March 10, 2021, following PRISMA guidelines with a consensus of two independent reviewers. We calculated the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) and created forest plots using random‐effects models. A total of 12 studies with 4828 PCS patients were included. We found that amongst PCS patients, the pooled prevalence of poor quality of life (EQ‐VAS) was (59%; 95% CI: 42%–75%). Based on individual factors in the EQ‐5D‐5L questionnaire, the prevalence of mobility was (36, 10–67), personal care (8, 1–21), usual quality (28, 2–65), pain/discomfort (42, 28–55), and anxiety/depression (38, 19–58). The prevalence of persistent symptoms was fatigue (64, 54–73), dyspnea (39.5, 20–60), anosmia (20, 15–24), arthralgia (24.3, 14–36), headache (21, 3–47), sleep disturbances (47, 7–89), and mental health (14.5, 4–29). Meta‐regression analysis showed the poor quality of life was significantly higher among post‐COVID‐19 patients with ICU admission (p = 0.004) and fatigue (p = 0.0015). Our study concludes that PCS is associated with poor quality of life, persistent symptoms including fatigue, dyspnea, anosmia, sleep disturbances, and worse mental health. This suggests that we need more research on PCS patients to understand the risk factors causing it and eventually leading to poor quality of life.
This article discusses three steps involved in moving us toward a theory of individual quality of life: developing a conceptual model, integrating theory components, and applying and evaluating the ...theory. Each of the proposed steps is guided by established standards regarding theory development and use. The article concludes with a discussion of criteria that can be used to evaluate the theory and the contribution that a theory of individual quality of life would make to the field of disability.
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