PROFILE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF LOGGERS

RESUMO – Objetivou-se com este estudo caracterizar o perfil e avaliar o nível de satisfação que reflete na qualidade de vida no trabalho (QVT) de trabalhadores da colheita de madeira de duas contratadas (C1 e C2), por duas grandes empresas do setor florestal, sendo uma do segmento de papel e celulose (PC) e, a outra, do segmento de carvão vegetal (CV). A avaliação ocorreu a partir da percepção dos trabalhadores das contratadas em questão, utilizando um modelo pré-concebido que contempla 11 blocos ou dimensões referentes a variáveis intervenientes e definidores da QVT, englobando 48 trabalhadores em três categorias funcionais: operador de motosserra (7 trabalhadores da C1 PC e 10 da C2 CV), ajudante de motosserrista (7 trabalhadores da C1 PC e 8 da C2 CV) e operador de carregador florestal (11 trabalhadores da C1 PC e 5 da C2 CV). Os dados referentes às variáveis intervenientes na QVT foram obtidos a partir de escala fechada do tipo Likert, com os escores variando de 1 a 7, em que 1 correspondeu ao nível "bastante insatisfeito" e 7, ao nível "bastante satisfeito". O perfil dos trabalhadores é de pessoa jovem, baixo nível de escolaridade e pouco tempo de serviço na empresa. Quanto ao nível de satisfação no trabalho, constatou-se que os trabalhadores da C1 PC se encontravam "satisfeitos" e os da C2 CV, "mediamente satisfeitos" com o trabalho e as condições proporcionadas pelas respectivas empresas, apesar de estatisticamente não ter sido detectada diferença entre os valores médios encontrados nas duas situações, pelo teste de Mediana (P>0,01). Os fatores que mais contribuíram para esses resultados favoráveis foram os benefícios extras oferecidos pelas prestadoras de serviços, as condições de segurança no trabalho e o contentamento com o emprego formal. ABSTRACT – The objective of this study was to characterize profile and satisfaction level, which reflects the quality of life (QOL) of forest workers of two contracts for harvest activities, one in the pulp and paper industry (PI) and another in charcoal industry (CI). The evaluation of the satisfaction indexes was carried out according to the workers perception by using a model including 11 parameters to reflect these workers QOL. The group study of 48 workers encompassed three functional categories: chainsaw operators (7 from C1 and 10 from C2), chainsaw operator's assistant (7 from C1 and 8 from C2), and log loader operators (11 from C1 and 5 from C2). Data regarding the factors involved in QOL were collected from a closed, Likert-type scale with scores ranging from 1-7, in which level 1 corresponded to "very dissatisfied" and level 7 to "very satisfied". The general profile of the group shows that most of them are young, with low level of education and employed in the companies for a short time. Overall, the employees of contractors of the paper and pulp industry are "satisfied" and those working for the charcoal company are only "moderately satisfied" with the work and policies offered by the respective companies, although no significant statistical difference was detected between the two groups, for the median test (P> 0.01). The main reasons behind these results are the general beneficts offered by the companies, the safety measurements and the overall satisfaction for been employed.

Influencia de un programa de ejercicio aeróbico en la calidad de vida de pacientes afectadas por cáncer de mama = Influence of an aerobic exercise program on breast cancer patients’ quality of life

INTRODUCCIÓN Actualmente las supervivientes de cáncer de mama viven durante más tiempo. Sin embargo, los tratamientos utilizados presentan importantes efectos secundarios que afectan y marcan su calidad de vida. Numerosos estudios han mostrado que el ejercicio es una herramienta apta, segura y efectiva reduciendo algunos de estos efectos secundarios y, en suma, mejorando la calidad de vida de estas pacientes, aspecto que presenta al ejercicio físico como una intervención integral para ellas. Por el contrario, se ha observado que las supervivientes de cáncer de mama reducen la cantidad de ejercicio que realizan después de dichos tratamientos. Por ello, el objetivo de este proyecto es examinar los efectos de un programa integral de ejercicio en la calidad de vida y la cantidad de ejercicio físico que realizan las pacientes con cáncer de mama en su tiempo, tras finalizar sus tratamientos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS Se diseñó un Ensayo Clínico Aleatorizado. Noventa pacientes diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama en estadios tempranos que habían terminado sus tratamientos de radioterapia y quimioterapia recientemente, fueron reclutadas por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, desde enero de 2013 hasta junio de 2014. Las pacientes fueron aleatorizadas tras las mediciones iniciales al grupo control (tratamientos habituales) o grupo intervención, durante tres meses. La intervención consistió en 24 clases de ejercicio combinando práctica aeróbica y de fuerza con el fin de reducir los efectos secundarios de dichos tratamientos. La calidad de vida, la cantidad de ejercicio físico realizado en tiempo de ocio, VO2max, la fuerza, la movilidad articular del hombro, la fatiga, la depresión y la ansiedad fueron medidos al inicio y después de los tres meses en todos los pacientes. RESULTADOS Un total de 89 pacientes con una media de 49.06±8.75 de edad fueron finalmente analizadas. El grupo intervención (n=44) mostraron significativamente mejores resultados en calidad de vida (p=0.0001; d=0.85), cantidad de ejercicio en tiempo de ocio (p=0.0001; d=2.77), en variables de la composición corporal, en variables físicas y en variables psicológicas comparado con el grupo control (n=45). Además, se observó una correlación significativa entre la calidad de vida y el ejercicio realizado en tiempo de ocio en el grupo intervención (r= 0.58; p=0.001), que no fue patente en el grupo control. Se observaron cambios significativos en el grupo de intervención relativos a la composición corporal, con aumento de la masa muscular (p=0.001) y reducción de la masa grasa (p=0.0001). Tanto las variables físicas como psicológicas también mostraron diferencias significativas a favor al grupo de intervención en las comparaciones entre grupos. CONCLUSIONES Según estos resultados, un programa de ejercicio físico específico es una intervención integral que mejora los hábitos y la calidad de vida de las supervivientes de cáncer de mama, lo que reduce determinados efectos secundarios de los tratamientos y aumenta la salud física y psicológica general de estas mujeres. Este tipo de intervenciones pude ser una herramienta barata y efectiva para ofrecer a los pacientes, integrada en los tratamientos habituales. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION It is well known that breast cancer survivors are living longer. However, breast cancer treatments present serious side effects, which could affect breast cancer survivors’ (BCS) health and quality of life (QoL). Exercise has been presented as a feasible, safe and effective tool in reducing some of these side effects and to improve survivors’ QoL, acting as an integrative treatment for them, although it has been observed that BCS reduce their leisure time exercise (LTE) levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of an integrative exercise program in QoL and LTE in BCS after the completion of their adjuvant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed. Ninety patients diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer and who recently finished chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments were recruited by the Technical University of Madrid from January 2013 to June 2014. Patients were randomized after baseline assessments to the intervention group (IG) or to the control group (CG) (usual care) for three months. The Intervention consisted in 24 supervised exercise classes, combining aerobic and resistance exercises in order to reduce the most common side effects of the treatments. QoL, LTE, body composition, VO2max, strength, shoulder range of motion, fatigue, depression and self-esteem were measured in all the patients at baseline and after three months. RESULTS A total of 89 patients aged 49.06±8.75 years were finally assessed. IG (n=44) showed significant better results in QoL (p=0.0001; d=0.85), LTE (p=0.0001; d=2.77), in body composition, in the physical variable and in psychological outcomes, compared with the CG (n=45). In addition, a correlation between QoL and LTE (r= 0.58; p=0.001) was found in the IG, while CG did not show this correlation. Significant changes in body composition were observed in the group comparisons, especially in lean mass (p=0.001) and body fat mass (p= 0.0001). Positive changes were also observed in the physical and psychological variables in comparisons between groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that this exercise program may be an integrative intervention, which is able to improve QoL and LTE levels in breast cancer survivors, reducing breast cancer side effects of treatments and improving their physical and psychological general health. Exercise may be an effective and inexpensive strategy to be included in patients integrative care.

Life satisfaction and health related quality of life during pregnancy and puerperium

Poster submitted to the 22nd International Conference Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR), Palma de Mallorca, July, 12-14, 2001.

Clinical and quality of life data correlation with a single-optic accommodating intraocular lens

Purpose: To examine a single-optic accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) visual performance by correlating IOL implanted eyes’ defocus curve with the intraocular aberrometric profile and the impact on the quality of life (QOL). Methods: Prospective consecutive case series study including a total of 25 eyes of 14 patients with ages ranging between 52 and 79 years old. All cases underwent cataract surgery with implantation of the single-optic accommodating IOL Crystalens HD (Bausch & Lomb). Distance and near visual acuity outcomes, intraocular aberrations, the defocus curve and QOL (NEI VFQ-25) were evaluated 3 months after surgery. Results: A significant improvement in distance visual acuity was found postoperatively (p = 0.02). Mean postoperative LogMAR uncorrected near visual acuity was 0.44 ± 0.23 (20/30). 60% of eyes had a postoperative addition between 0 and 1.5 diopters (D). The defocus curve showed an area of maximum visual acuity for the levels of defocus corresponding to distance and intermediate vision (−1 to +0.5 D). Postoperative intermediate visual acuity correlated significantly some QOL indices (r ≥ 0.51, p ≤ 0.03; difficulty in going down steps or seeing how people react to things that patient says) as well as with J0 component of manifest cylinder. Postoperative distance-corrected near visual acuity correlated significantly with age (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). Conclusions: This accommodating IOL seems to be able to restore the distance visual function as well as to provide an improvement in intermediate and near vision with a significant impact on patient's QOL, although limited by age and astigmatism. Future studies with larger sample sizes should confirm all these trends.

Visual and optical performance and quality of life after implantation of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens

Purpose To evaluate visual, optical, and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and intercorrelations after bilateral implantation of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses. Methods Twenty eyes with high to moderate myopia of 10 patients that underwent PRL implantation (Phakic Refractive Lens, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) were examined. Refraction, visual acuity, photopic and low mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS) with and without glare, ocular aberrations, as well as QoL outcomes (National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Instrument-42, NEI RQL-42) were evaluated at 12 months postoperatively. Results Significant improvement in uncorrected (UDVA) and best-corrected distance (CDVA) visual acuities were found postoperatively (p < 0.01), with significant reduction in spherical equivalent (p < 0.01). Low mesopic CS without glare was significantly better than measurements with glare for 1.5, 3, and 6 cycles/degree (p < 0.01). No significant correlations between higher order root mean square (RMS) with CDVA (r = −0.26, p = 0.27) and CS (r ≤ 0.45, p ≥ 0.05) were found. Postoperative binocular photopic CS for 12 cycles/degree and 18 cycles/degree correlated significantly with several RQL-42 scales. Glare index correlated significantly with CS measures and scotopic pupil size (r = −0.551, p = 0.04), but not with higher order RMS (r = −0.02, p = 0.94). Postoperative higher order RMS, postoperative primary coma and postoperative spherical aberration was significant higher for 5-mm pupil diameter (p < 0.01) compared with controls. Conclusions Correction of moderate to high myopia by means of PRL implantation had a positive impact on CS and QoL. The aberrometric increase induced by the surgery does not seem to limit CS and QoL. However, perception of glare is still a relevant disturbance in some cases possibly related to the limitation of the optical zone of the PRL.