1. Nursing support in facilitating mental well-being of adolescentsLeona Cilar Budler, 2022, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Background: Mental well-being is a state in which an individual acts positively, feels good, copes with the daily stressors and contributes to his/her community. Adolescents are a population who experience the various stressors brought on by growing up. The purpose of the doctoral dissertation is to determine the mental well-being of adolescents in correlation with the support of family, friends, teachers, and nurses.
Methods: The research was based on the paradigm of pragmatism which supports the usage of quantitative and qualitative approaches using mixed methods. The quantitative part of the research included 2 972 adolescents. The survey method was used, descriptive and inferential statistics and presentation of the results were done with the help of tables, charts and figures. In the qualitative part of the research, data were collected using the interview method. Interviews were conducted with 5 focus groups involving 16 adolescents, 8 parents, 6 teachers, 3 legislators, and 6 nurses. The data were analysed following the steps of Corbin & Strauss (2008).
Results: The mental well-being of adolescents is positively related (r = 0.624) to their social support. The mental well-being (r = -0.286) and social support (r = -0.239) of adolescents declines with age. Adolescents are of the opinion that the role of the nurse is to talk to them, help them, advise them, and explain difficulties that bother them. The mental well-being of adolescents is related to their interaction and interpersonal relations with parents, friends, and teachers. In ensuring the mental well-being of adolescents, we must consider the model multidimensional well-being. The Model of Interpersonal Relationships is proposed, which is formed based on the results of quantitative and qualitative part of the research and taking into account the concepts of the Theory of Interpersonal Relationships (Peplau, 1952) and the model of Multidimensional Well-being (Sarriera & Bedin, 2017).
Discussion: Mental well-being is an important and relatively new concept in nursing. Adolescents’ mental well-being is closely linked to interpersonal relationships and a safe environment in which they can express themselves. Adolescents and parents do not obtain the necessary professional help in a timely manner. There is also a need for additional education on the mental well-being of adolescents among adolescents, parents, teachers, and nurses.
Conclusion: Interpersonal relationships between adolescents, family, friends, teachers, and nurses are of major importance for ensuring mental well-being. There is a need for further research to improve the mental well-being of adolescents worldwide.
Keywords: youth, mental health, quality of life, social support, nursing
Published in DKUM: 12.09.2022; Views: 321; Downloads: 131
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2. Health-related quality of life in paediatric arterial hypertension : a cross-sectional studyTadej Petek, Tjaša Hertiš, Nataša Marčun-Varda, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The prevalence of paediatric hypertension is increasing worldwide, especially due to the childhood obesity epidemic, and is an important public-health concern. While the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) was already shown to be impaired in the adult hypertensive population, a scarcity of data still exists on HRQoL in paediatric hypertensive patients. Our purpose was thus to assess the HRQoL of children and adolescents with arterial hypertension, using self- and proxy-reports, and to determine the correlations between child and parent questionnaire scores.
Methods: The Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales were administered via post to children and adolescents, aged 5-18 years, with primary or secondary arterial hypertension and parents as proxy-reports. Patients were recruited from a paediatric nephrology unit in a tertiary hospital, using an out-patient clinic visit registry. Healthy school children and adolescents from a local primary school, aged 6 to 15 years, and their parents formed the control group. HRQoL group comparisons were calculated with independent samples t-test and child-parent correlations with the Pearson’s r correlation coefficient.
Results: In total we recruited 139 patient and 199 control group participants as self- and proxy-reports. Scores from self- as well as proxy-reports indicated a significantly lower overall HRQoL in the paediatric hypertensive population (95% CI for mean score difference: − 11.02, − 2.86 for self- and − 10.28, − 2.67 for proxy-reports; p = .001). In self-reports, lower physical (95% CI: -13.95, − 4.89; p = <.001), emotional (95% CI: -12.96, − 2.38; p = .005), school (95% CI: -11.30, − 0.42; p = .035), and psychosocial functioning scores were observed (95% CI: -10.34, − 1.89; p = .005). Parent proxy-reports were lower in physical (95% CI: -14.31, − 5.39; p = <.001), emotional (95% CI: -12.39, − 2.60; p = .003) and psychosocial scores (95% CI: -9.36, − 1.34; p = .009). Pearson’s r values ranged between 0.62 to 0.79 in patient and 0.56 to 0.80 in control sample (p < .001). Interestingly, hypertensive children reported lower social functioning scores than hypertensive adolescents (p < .001).
Conclusions: This cross-sectional study gives insight into the detrimental impact of hypertension on children’s and adolescents HRQoL, which may inform public health experts. Furthermore, it shows that clinicians should aim to improve patients’ physical and psychosocial well-being throughout their development.
Keywords: arterial hypertension, paediatric, health-related quality of life, PedsQL
Published in DKUM: 26.10.2018; Views: 1465; Downloads: 134
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3. Selected social aspects of the quality of life : a case of the city of Pilsen, Czech republicAlena Matušková, Magdalena Rousová, 2012, original scientific article Abstract: The article deals with the development of the labour market in the city of Pilsen after 1989, which was significantly influenced by the transformation of the local industry. Apart from the traditional indicators of the labour market, the authors also deal with the proportion of foreign workers. Over the past decade, a dramatic growth of foreigners has been depicted, which was caused by the arrival of foreign investors in Pilsen as these have created a number of job opportunities for less qualified workers. The aim of the contribution is to identify both positive and negative social aspects of life in Pilsen as these are influenced by the development of the situation on the labour market in the city and also to monitor the internal and external factors influencing the development.
Keywords: Pilsen, industry, labour market, life quality, foreigners, global economic crisis
Published in DKUM: 10.04.2018; Views: 757; Downloads: 64
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4. A life histories approach to gold prospecting and frontier farming in the Brazilian AmazonScott William Hoefle, 2009, review article Abstract: In contrast to the usual faceless macro-economic and sociological treatment of development cycles in the Amazon, which at best offer generalities about ‘social actors’ labelled ‘peasants’, ‘ranchers’ and ‘trans-national corporations’, who represent the abstract categories of labour and globalised capital, a human face to frontier processes is offered here. The social and economic sustainability of the shifting back and forth from gold prospecting to family farming on the frontier is evaluated through the eyes of those who experienced it so producing an un- romanticised portrait of prospecting in western Pará during the gold rush of 1961-1990 as well as of frontier farming today. The economic origin and past quality of life of those who left local farms or came from the distant rural zones of impoverished Maranhão are compared and contrasted with that of their passage through the degrading living conditions of gold prospecting and finally with their current situation as struggling but independent frontier farmers in Itaituba and Santarém municipalities.
Keywords: Amazon, frontier farming, gold prospecting, quality of life
Published in DKUM: 20.03.2018; Views: 929; Downloads: 75
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5. Social capital in rural communities in the NetherlandsFrans Thissen, 2009, original scientific article Abstract: The quality of life in Dutch rural communities is high in comparison with urban communities in the Netherlands because of the residential quality of villages, the mobility of the inhabitants and the strong commitment by the inhabitants to the local society. However, today’s Dutch villages bear no resemblance to the traditional village and neither is social capital self-evident nowadays. This article presents evidence from two projects. It summarizes some results of a national survey organised within the framework of the research programme entitled ‘The Social State of the Countryside’, as carried out by the Social and Cultural Planning Office of The Netherlands (SCP) and a project in one of the most rural parts of the Netherlands (Zeeland). In the Zeeland villages, social capital is analysed from the point of view of the relationship between quality of life, social cohesion and local community care in small villages.
Keywords: transformation of rural communities, civil society, social capital, quality of life, social vitality, social cohesion, community care
Published in DKUM: 19.03.2018; Views: 1136; Downloads: 98
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6. Quality of life for families of children with intellectual disabilitiesMajda Schmidt, Ksenija Seršen, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: The main part of the article presents the results of a recent empirical study about the quality of life for families in Slovenia that have a child with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. Using the FQOLS-2006, we analysed nine quality of life domains (Health, Financial Well-Being, Family Relationships, Support from Others, Support Services, Influence of Values, Careers, Leisure and Community Interaction) from the perspective of six measurement dimensions. The study also examines the differences among the measurement dimensions in the nine domains. The sample consisted of 44 families. We used descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Friedman test). The Family Relationships domain had the highest average rating of all measured domains regarding the quality of family life. The results in the domain of Support from Others are not encouraging, in particular the domain of Support from Services. Families require powerful support programs from qualified professional teams as well as societal and political attention.
Keywords: family quality of life, intellectual disabilities, quality of life domains, quality of life dimensions
Published in DKUM: 26.09.2017; Views: 1141; Downloads: 115
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7. Factors associated with health-related quality of life among university studentsZalika Klemenc-Ketiš, Janko Kersnik, Ksenija Eder, Dušan Colarič, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: University students are subjected to different kinds of stressors, i.e.academic pressures, social issues and financial problems. This can affect their academic achievements and quality of life.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the health-related quality of life of university students, and how it is affected by the presence of chronic diseases, mental disorders comorbidity, and patterns of medical services' use.
Methods: This web-based study included a sample of 1,410 Slovenian university students. We used a self-administered questionnaire, containing a sheet with demographic data, Zung's self-assessment inventories about anxiety and depression, and EQ-5D questionnaire. The main outcome measures were scores on EQ-5D part and VAS part of the EQ-5D questionnaire.
Results: Independent factors associated with the health-related quality of life of university students, were the presence of chronic pain, the presence of depression and anxiety, need for urgent medical help and at least one visit to a clinical specialist in the past year. The independent factors associated with the health status of university students were the presence of chronic diseases, chronic pain, depression and anxiety, a visit to a clinical specialist, a need for urgent medical help and a visit to an emergency unit in the past year.
Conclusion: Health-related quality of life of university students can be seriously affected by the presence of mental disorders and chronic pain. Appropriate health-related measures should be adopted to achieve early recognition of worse health-related quality of life, the presence of mental disorders and other chronic conditions, and to enable their effective treatment.
Keywords: quality of life, students, chronic disease, pain, depression, anxiety
Published in DKUM: 04.08.2017; Views: 998; Downloads: 408
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8. Modeling the quality of life - economic growth fuelled by technology research, innovation and knowledgeKatja Rašič, Matjaž Mulej, Vesna Čančer, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: The paper attempts to integrate indicators of economic growth based on innovation, technology research, and knowledge with the indicators of quality of life. The research collected data at the macro-economic level from the Republic of Slovenia between 1990 and 2011 and empirically verified individual variables based on the quality of life and economic growth. The main purpose of the research was to conceptualize and empirically verify individual variables based on the quality of life and company success, using a sample of 288 economic companies at the micro-economic level. Their innovation-government mechanisms and innovation-innovative process show a strong correlation, while technology research, innovation, knowledge, and company´s success show a medium-strong correlation with the quality of life at the micro-economic level. Technology research, knowledge, and economic growth also show a strong correlation with the quality of life at the macro-economic level in the Republic of Slovenia. Company´s success and economic growth in the Republic of Slovenia have a positive effect on the quality of life. The scientific contribution is based on the application of the new QL-TRIK model that investigates how economic growth fuels quality of life through technology research, innovation, and knowledge.
Keywords: economic growth, innovation, research, quality of life
Published in DKUM: 06.07.2017; Views: 962; Downloads: 349
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9. Comorbidities and characteristics of coronary heart disease patients: their impact on health-related quality of lifeKsenija Tušek-Bunc, Davorina Petek, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) commonly present with more than one comorbid condition, contributing to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of our study was to identify the associations between HRQoL and patient characteristics, vascular comorbidities and anxiety/depression disorders.
Methods: This observational study was conducted in 36 family medicine practices selected by random stratified sampling from all regions of Slovenia. HRQoL was assessed using the European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire and EQ Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). The associations between HRQoL and patient characteristics stratified by demographics, vascular comorbidities, health services used, their assessment of chronic illness care, and anxiety/depression disorders were identified by ordinal logistic regression and linear regression models.
Results: The final sample included 423 CHD patients with a mean age of 68.0 ± SD 10.8 years; 35.2% were female. Mean EQ-VAS score was 58.6 ± SD 19.9 (median: 60 with interquartile range of 45–75), and mean EQ-5D index was 0.60 ± SD 0.19 (median: 0.56 with interquartile range of 0.41–0.76). The statistically significant predictors of a lower EQ-VAS score were higher family physician visit frequency, heart failure (HF) and anxiety/depression disorders (R² 0.240; F = 17.368; p < 0.001). The statistically significant predictor of better HRQoL, according to EQ-5D was higher patient education, whereas higher family physician visit frequency, HF and peripheral artery disease (PAD) were predictors of poorer HRQoL (Nagelkerke R 2 = 0.298; χ 2 = 148.151; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Results of our study reveal that comorbid conditions (HF and PAD), family physician visit frequency and years in education are significant predictors of HRQoL in Slovenian CHD patients.
Keywords: coronary heart disease patient, health-related quality of life, vascular comorbidities, anxiety/depression disorders
Published in DKUM: 29.06.2017; Views: 1321; Downloads: 394
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10. The effect of an educational intervention in family phisicians on self-rated quality of life in patients with medically unexplained symptomsVojislav Ivetić, Klemen Pašić, Polona Selič, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are very common in family medicine, despite being a poorly-defined clinical entity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention (EI) on self-rated quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and the family physician-patient relationship in patients with MUS.
Methods: In a multi-centre longitudinal intervention study, which was performed between 2012 and 2014, patients were asked to rate their quality of life, assess their depression, anxiety, stress and somatisation, complete the Hypochondriasis Index, the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale and the Patient Enablement Instrument for assessing the physician-patient relationship, before and after the EI.
Results: The mean values before and after the intervention showed that after the EI, patients with MUS gave a lower (total) mean rating of their health issues and a higher rating of their quality of life, and they also had a more positive opinion of their relationship with the physician (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in the (total) rating of treatment satisfaction before and after the EI (p=0.423). Significant differences in the symptoms in patients with MUS before and after the intervention were confirmed for stress, somatisation and hypochondriasis (p<0.05).
Conclusions: It could be beneficial to equip family physicians with the knowledge, skills and tools to reduce hypochondriasis and somatisation in MUS patients, which would improve patients’ self-rated health status.
Keywords: medically unexplained symptoms, family medicine, educational intervention, quality of life, treatment satisfaction, family physician-patient relationship
Published in DKUM: 06.04.2017; Views: 1472; Downloads: 380
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