[Health-related quality of life among people with intellectual disabilities in Spain]
(2009)
Journal - Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health (United States )
Abstract :
OBJECTIVE: To measure health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) among people with intellectual disabilities in the province of Salamanca, Spain. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional descriptive study. The SF-36 Health Survey, adapted and validated for the Spanish population, was selected and administered to 265 people with intellectual disabilities in the province of Salamanca, Spain. Personal interviews were also conducted with the participants in the presence of their parents, tutors, or close family. Eight quality-of-life scales were explored: general health, physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, role-emotional, social functioning, vitality, and mental health, based on questions on sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, health services utilization, support needs, and health status and HRQL. RESULTS: Of the 265 people studied, 69.8% were men and 30.2% were women (median age: 35 years; minimum: 16; maximum: 72). The highest number of points pertained to role-physical and physical functioning (more than 85 points), and the lowest, to general health and vitality (less than 70 points). No significant differences were found between men and women for any of the eight components. The independent variables, age, family income, level of education, and support needs showed the greatest number of independent associations with the general health, physical functioning, and social functioning components. Of the participants, 41.5% indicated that they felt their health was good. CONCLUSIONS: The study participants perceived their HRQL to be good, especially on the role-physical and physical functioning scales. Additional studies should be designed to evaluate HRQL in people with different degrees of intellectual disability to further contribute to intervention efforts and health and social programs designed specifically for this population group and to evaluate the interventions and program already underway.
| ISSN : | 1020-4989 |
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| Mesh Heading : | Adolescent Adult Aged Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Male Middle Aged Questionnaires Spain Young Adult psychology |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | Mental Disorders Mentally Disabled Persons Quality of Life |
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[Premature death from infectious diseases in Spain, 1908-1995]
(2002)
Journal - Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health (United States )
Abstract :
OBJECTIVES: Infectious diseases have traditionally been one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. The objectives of this research were to: 1) quantify the importance of infectious diseases as a cause of premature mortality in Spain between 1908 and 1995, and 2) determine the frequency and distribution of the infectious diseases with the greatest impact on premature death. METHODS: The study was carried out based on data on mortality from infectious causes published by the National Institute of Statistics in the Movimiento natural de la población (Natural Movement of the Population) for the study period. Three indicators of premature mortality were used: the potential years of life lost (PYLL), the crude rate of PYLL per 1 000 population, and the percentage and the average of PYLL. RESULTS: Between 1908 and 1995, the number and the rate of PYLL from infectious causes clearly declined. The decrease was more prominent starting in the 1950s, and it was seen in all age groups. Tuberculosis was the leading cause of premature death from the beginning of the century until the 1970s, but after that, the leading causes became pneumonia and AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of infectious diseases as determinants of premature death in Spain declined during the 20th century, especially starting in the 1970s.
| ISSN : | 1020-4989 |
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| Mesh Heading : | Adolescent Adult Age Factors Aged Cause of Death Child Child, Preschool Humans Infant Infection Middle Aged Spain |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | mortality |
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