Objective: To assess the efficacy of a World Wide Web-enabled asthma self-management intervention on quality-of-life indicators among self-selected participants with asthma. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in which quality-of-life outcome indicators were derived from the Mini Asthma...

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly implemented hospital-based diabetes mellitus disease management program. A secondary aim was to determine if relationships existed among variables. Design and setting: Effectiveness was evaluated in terms of...

Background: Use of unmodified interferon alpha-2a in chronic hepatitis C is associated with impaired health-related quality of life during therapy. Treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (40kD) provides an improved sustained response over unmodified interferon alpha-2a. Objectives: To compare...

Objectives: To evaluate the burden of illness in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in terms of resource utilisation (direct and indirect) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), in individuals with IBS who meet Rome I and Rome II criteria. Methods: A cross-sectional study, carried out by...

A literature search was conducted to review quality-of-life (QOL) measurement in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The different QOL instruments are discussed in relation to their correlation with symptom evaluation in studies of treatment options for BPH. Symptom evaluation of...

Background: Although several studies have determined quality of life in patients with lung cancer, there is still little information about the use of generic questionnaires [e.g. the 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36)] and utility questionnaires [e.g. the EuroQOL instrument (EQ-5D)] in...

Background: Disease management has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Yet Independent Practice Associations (IPA) have expressed concern with the promise of disease management (DM) to improve patient outcomes. Managed care...

The evaluation of outcome of management of patients with angina pectoris is now inextricably linked with an assessment of quality of life. Angina pectoris, as a manifestation of coronary heart disease, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries. Optimal management of patients...

With increasing chronic disease and disability burden as a result of the aging of populations worldwide, cost estimates of disease and disability are important in determining: 1. the most cost-effective methods in delivering healthcare in order to maximise resources; and 2. health policies and...

Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) research, in general, is developing. It is becoming increasingly recognised as being important and knowledge on how to assess HR-QOL is spreading. Modern HR-QOL research should assess prevalence and severity of symptoms or functions, as well as the bother...