BACKGROUND Physical activity has been consistently associated with enhanced quality of life (QOL) in older adults. However, the nature of this relationship is not fully understood. In this study of community dwelling older adults, we examined the proposition that physical activity influences global QOL through self-efficacy and health-status. METHODS Participants (N = 321, M age = 63.8) compl...

BACKGROUND Physical disability and depression in patients with chronic pain have been shown to be associated with pain intensity and pain self-efficacy beliefs. However, little is known about whether pain self-efficacy beliefs can predict depression and physical disability when this relationship is controlled for pain intensity and other related demographic variables The aim of the current stud...

BACKGROUND People with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people ...

BACKGROUND Although major depression (MD) is associated with high levels of disability, the relationships between cognitive dysfunction and self-rated disability are poorly understood. This study examined the relationships between self-rated disability in persons with MD and both self-rated and objectively-measured cognitive functioning. METHODS Twenty-one persons with MD and 21 control parti...

BACKGROUND Leprosy-related disability is a challenge to public health, and social and rehabilitation services in endemic countries. Disability is more than a mere physical dysfunction, and includes activity limitations, stigma, discrimination, and social participation restrictions. We assessed the extent of disability and its determinants among persons with leprosy-related disabilities after re...

OBJECTIVES To determine, in a population based study, the influence of occupational factors on the occurrence of shoulder pain and disability. METHODS A random sample of patients was selected from the register of a general practice in the Greater Manchester area of the United Kingdom. Information was collected by a posted questionnaire with specific enquiries about symptoms in the shoulder re...

BACKGROUND & AIM Quality of life may be reduced in patients with chronic liver diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of chronic viral liver disease on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS Quality of life was prospectively investigated in 227 patients with chronic viral liver disease and 75 controls. The generic Short Form 12 questionnaire was app...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk factors related to worsening of physical disabilities after treatment discharge among patients with leprosy administered 12 consecutive monthly doses of multidrug therapy (MDT/WHO). METHODS Cohort study was carried out at the Leprosy Laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We evaluated patients with multibacillary leprosy treated (MDT/WHO) between 1997 and 2007. T...