Gerd Karin Natvig

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Norwegian Kidscreen-27 questionnaire, a measure of generic health-related quality of life, in 10 year-old children. The Kidscreen-27 consists of five domains and was validated in a sample of 56 school children (29 boys). The children completed the questionnaire at three different time points during two consecutive school days. For convergent validity, the study was powered to detect a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.4. Cronbach's alpha values ranged from 0.73 to 0.83. Floor effects were all zero and ceiling effects ranged from 1.7% to 23.7%. Intraclass correlation values over time ranged from 0.71 to 0.81. However, some individual variability over time occurred and was illustrated by Bland Altman plots. The domains of physical well-being, psychological well-being and autonomy & parents improved over time (Ps < 0.05), while social support and school environment domains did not. We assessed convergent validity using general life satisfaction scores obtained by administering the Cantrils Ladder. All the Kidscreen-27 domains were significantly associated with general life satisfaction (Spearman rank correlations ranged from 0.29 to 0.59, Ps < 0.05). In conclusion, the Norwegian version of Kidscreen-27 has good reliability and validity.

Background. Knowledge about mixed-methods perspectives that examine anxiety, depression, social support, mental health and the phenomenon of suffering among cognitively intact NH residents is scarce. We aimed to explore suffering and mental health among cognitively intact NH residents. Methods. This study used a mixed-methods design to explore different aspects of the same phenomena of interest to gain a more comprehensive understanding. The qualitative core component comprised a qualitative interview from 18 nursing home residents (≥65 years) about experiences related to pain, grief and loss. The supplementary component comprised interview from the same respondents using the SF-36 Health Survey subscales , the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Social Provisions Scale. Results. The individual descriptions reveal suffering caused by painful experiences during life. The quantitative results indicated that symptoms of anxiety and depression were related to mental health and symptoms of anxiety were related to bodily pain and emotional role limitations. Attachment and social integration were associated with vitality and social functioning. Discussion. To improve the situation, more attention should be paid to the residents’ suffering related to anxiety, depression and psychosocial relations.

Background. Knowledge about mixed-methods perspectives that examine anxiety, depression, social support, mental health and the phenomenon of suffering among cognitively intact NH residents is scarce. We aimed to explore suffering and mental health among cognitively intact NH residents. Methods. This study used a mixed-methods design to explore different aspects of the same phenomena of interest to gain a more comprehensive understanding. The qualitative core component comprised a qualitative interview from 18 nursing home residents (≥65 years) about experiences related to pain, grief and loss. The supplementary component comprised interview from the same respondents using the SF-36 Health Survey subscales , the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Social Provisions Scale. Results. The individual descriptions reveal suffering caused by painful experiences during life. The quantitative results indicated that symptoms of anxiety and depression were related to mental health and symptoms of anxiety were related to bodily pain and emotional role limitations. Attachment and social integration were associated with vitality and social functioning. Discussion. To improve the situation, more attention should be paid to the residents’ suffering related to anxiety, depression and psychosocial relations.

Background: The aims of this study were to translate the Obesity-Related Problem scale (OP scale) into the Norwegian language and test its reliability, validity and responsiveness in a Norwegian sample. Method: The questionnaire (OP scale) was translated from the original language (Swedish) into Norwegian. Patients completed the questionnaire prior to and one year after sleeve gastrectomy. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach`s α. Floor and ceiling effect were calculated as percentages. Construct validity was tested by correlating the OP-scale with the SF-36 and the Cantril Ladder using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis, using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, was used to test the unidimensionality of the OP scale. Responsiveness was tested by assessing changes in the OP scale from baseline to one year post-surgery using the paired sample t-test. Result: A total of 181 patients (123 women) accepted for bariatric surgery was included in the study. The mean age was 43.1 ± 12.5 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) before surgery was 45 ± 6.9. The mean value of the OP scale at baseline was 63.30 ± 24.43 (severe impairment) and 21.01 ± 20.98 at one year follow-up (mild impairment). Cronbach`s α was high at baseline (0. 91), as well as one year after surgery (0.88). The floor effect was small at baseline and moderate at one year. The ceiling effect was small at baseline and at one year. Exploratory factor analysis showed one factor with a high percent of explained variance (baseline and post-surgery). Correlations between OP scale at baseline, SF-36, Cantril Ladder and BMI were statistically significant and in the predicted direction to support validity of the Norwegian OP scale . After one year correlations between the change in OP scale and the change in SF-36 scores, Cantril Ladder and BMI were also statistically significant, except for the change in the Role Physical-scale. The OP scale showed greater responsiveness than either the SF-36 or Cantril Ladder. Conclusion: These results confirm that the Norwegian version of the OP scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring psychosocial functioning in patients with clinically severe obesity.

Background: The aims of this study were to translate the Obesity-Related Problem scale (OP scale) into the Norwegian language and test its reliability, validity and responsiveness in a Norwegian sample. Method: The questionnaire (OP scale) was translated from the original language (Swedish) into Norwegian. Patients completed the questionnaire prior to and one year after sleeve gastrectomy. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach`s α. Floor and ceiling effect were calculated as percentages. Construct validity was tested by correlating the OP-scale with the SF-36 and the Cantril Ladder using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis, using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, was used to test the unidimensionality of the OP scale. Responsiveness was tested by assessing changes in the OP scale from baseline to one year post-surgery using the paired sample t-test. Result: A total of 181 patients (123 women) accepted for bariatric surgery was included in the study. The mean age was 43.1 ± 12.5 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) before surgery was 45 ± 6.9. The mean value of the OP scale at baseline was 63.30 ± 24.43 (severe impairment) and 21.01 ± 20.98 at one year follow-up (mild impairment). Cronbach`s α was high at baseline (0. 91), as well as one year after surgery (0.88). The floor effect was small at baseline and moderate at one year. The ceiling effect was small at baseline and at one year. Exploratory factor analysis showed one factor with a high percent of explained variance (baseline and post-surgery). Correlations between OP scale at baseline, SF-36, Cantril Ladder and BMI were statistically significant and in the predicted direction to support validity of the Norwegian OP scale . After one year correlations between the change in OP scale and the change in SF-36 scores, Cantril Ladder and BMI were also statistically significant, except for the change in the Role Physical-scale. The OP scale showed greater responsiveness than either the SF-36 or Cantril Ladder. Conclusion: These results confirm that the Norwegian version of the OP scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring psychosocial functioning in patients with clinically severe obesity.

God kontakt med sosiale nettverk er viktig, men kognitivt klåre sjukeheimsbebuarar har vanskar med å oppretthalda ein slik kontakt. Hovudmål med denne studien var å undersøkja kognitivt klåre sjukeheimsbebuarar sin helserelaterte livskvalitet, i relasjon til ønske om og frekvens av sosial nettverkskontakt med eigne barn, samt å utforska eventuelle samanhengar mellom desse. Studien har eit tverrsnittsdesign, og forskar intervjua 227 kognitivt klåre sjukeheimsbebuarar 65 år eller eldre, ved bruk av spørjeskjema Short Form-36 og Andersson sitt Sosiale Nettverkskontaktskjema. Aukande grad av ønskje om kontakt med eigne barn er signifikant relatert til lågare mental helse og emosjonell rollefungering. Samanhengane her var uavhengige av kor ofte dei kognitivt klåre sjukeheimsbebuarane hadde kontakt med eigne barn. I tillegg finn ein signifikant samanheng mellom frekvens av sosial nettverkskontakt med eigne barn og lågare fysisk fungering. Studien foreslår ei auka merksemd mot emnet samt auka tilrettelegging for at kognitivt klåre sjukeheimsbebuarar betre skal ha høve til å oppretthalda kontakt med eigne barn, dersom dei ønskjer det. Close contact with social networks is important, but nursing home residents often experience difficulties in maintaining such contact. The main aims of this study were to examine cognitively intact nursing home residents and their health-related quality of life in relation to their level of desire for and frequency of social contact with their children, as well as to explore possible relationships between these. The study has a cross-sectional design. To collect data the researchers interviewed 227 cognitively intact nursing home residents, 65 years old and older, using the questionnaire Short Form-36 and Anderssons Social Network Contact Form. Increased desire for contact is significantly related to decreased mental health and role-emotional functioning. These relationships were independent of how often the cognitively intact nursing home residents had contact with their children. In addition, we found significant relationships between the frequencies of social network contacts and decreased physical health. The study suggests attention to the topic, and increased emphasis on socialization with their children for cognitively intact nursing home residents.

There is little robust evidence relating to changes in health related quality of life (HRQL) in morbidly obese patients following a multidisciplinary non-surgical weight loss program or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). The aim of the present study was to describe and compare changes in five dimensions of HRQL in morbidly obese subjects. In addition, we wanted to assess the clinical relevance of the changes in HRQL between and within these two groups after one year. We hypothesized that RYGB would be associated with larger improvements in HRQL than a part residential intensive lifestyle-intervention program (ILI) with morbidly obese subjects.

Patients with morbid obesity have an increased risk for anxiety and depression. The "duodenal switch" is perhaps the most effective obesity surgery procedure for inducing weight loss. However, to our knowledge, data on symptoms of anxiety and depression after the duodenal switch are lacking. Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that self-reported physical health is the major predictor of symptoms of depression in patients with morbid obesity. We therefore investigated the symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after the duodenal switch procedure and whether post-operative changes in self-reported physical health were predictive of changes in these symptoms.

While research on school children's health has mainly focused on risk factors and illness, few studies have examined aspects of health promotion. Thus, this study focuses on health promotional factors including general self-efficacy (GSE) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). GSE refers to a global confidence in coping ability across a wide range of demanding situations, and is related to health. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between GSE and HRQOL, and associations between HRQOL and socio-demographic characteristics. Knowledge of these associations in healthy school children is currently lacking.

Several studies have shown that morbid obese patients have poor health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) on health-related quality of life for morbidly obese patients. 48 patients (26 women and 22 men, mean age 37.4, mean BMI 51.5) completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) before and one year after surgery. Paired t-tests were used to analyze differences in SF-36 scores before and one year after surgery. Morbidly obese patients had very poor health-related quality of life (SF-36) before surgery compared with norms (p < 0.001). One year after surgery, all SF-36 dimensions had improved significantly (p < 0.001). The morbidly obese patients in this study had very poor health-related quality of life compared to norms, but they experienced considerable improvement after bariatric surgery.