This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for Colorectal Cancer for Serbian patients.

The prospective cohort study was conducted at the Clinic for Digestive Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia, and included 150 Serbian-speaking colorectal adenocarcinoma patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The translation process involved rigorous forward and backward translations, pilot testing with patients, and statistical analysis for psychometric validation, including internal consistency, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and known-groups validity.

Results showed good internal consistency across most scales (Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.769 to 0.855), with excellent split-half reliability (0.872). Convergent and discriminant validity analyses confirmed the questionnaire’s capacity to measure constructs it was theoretically related. The significant correlations were observed between corresponding scales and items of EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. Known-groups analysis demonstrated the tool’s ability to distinguish between patient groups based on tumor location, stoma presence, and neoadjuvant therapy.

The Serbian version of the EORTC QLQ-CR29 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the quality of life in Serbian colorectal cancer patients, reflecting its potential for widespread clinical application.

The study was conducted to determine the relationship between spirituality and the quality of life among women with breast cancer.

This study utilized descriptive correlational research and a purposive sampling technique that involved women with breast cancer. Patients with breast cancer from particular breast cancer societies and organizations in Manila made up the sample. A total of 123 participants were included in the study. The Spiritual Index of Well-Being (SIWB) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to collect the needed data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to determine the relationship between spirituality and quality of life among women with breast cancer.

A high level of spirituality and quality of life were found among the participants. Overall, the mean score of the SIWB among the participants was 4.48 (±0.670), while the quality of life score was 62.6 (±10.9). A significant negative correlation was found between spirituality and quality of life (r = -0.127, p = 0.031), while significant positive correlations were noted between quality of life and self-efficacy (r = 0.683, p < 0.001) and life schemes or meaning in life (r = 0.704, p < 0.001).

Although spirituality and quality of life had a negative correlation, the subscales of self-efficacy and life scheme had high positive correlations, indicating the complex dimensions of spirituality. In addition to providing coping strategies, spirituality offers patients the emotional, social, and existential support they need to deal with the unknowns of illness.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a well-established intervention for treatment-resistant depression. However, its effects on patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life (QoL), have not been fully characterized, especially among older adults. This study compares the impact of rTMS on QoL in younger (<60 years) versus older (≥60 years) adults with major depressive disorder.

We analyzed data from 531 participants with depression (ages 18–89 years) from two randomized clinical trials (THREE-D and FOUR-D). All participants received either unilateral or bilateral rTMS or theta burst stimulation. QoL was assessed using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire – Short Form at baseline, end of treatment, and 12-week follow-up, and compared between younger adults (age < 60 years; n = 360) and older adults (age ≥ 60 years, n = 171). The clinical relevance of the changes was evaluated through effect sizes, using a predefined threshold of 12 points as the minimal clinically important difference, and comparisons with community norms.

After rTMS treatment, both younger and older adults experienced statistically significant improvements in QoL, with medium to large effect sizes. The effect was sustained over 12 weeks of follow-up. At baseline, only 0.3% of younger adults and 2.3% of older adults reported normal QoL, which significantly increased to, respectively, 19.8 and 19.4% by the end of treatment, and 23.7 and 26.8% at the 12-week follow-up.

rTMS yielded acute and sustained clinically meaningful improvements in QoL, with similar effects among younger and older adults with depression. The magnitude of improvement was comparable to, or exceeded, that reported in antidepressant trials.

Strength-based approaches are increasingly common in neurodevelopmental research, but the positive characteristics that may be features of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remain underexplored. The extent to which people with ADHD recognize and use their personal strengths, and whether these play a role in their life outcomes, is also unknown. Tackling these gaps in the literature, we conducted the first study of self-reported strengths, strengths knowledge, and strengths use in ADHD.

Adults with (n = 200) and without (n = 200) ADHD were recruited online and rated their endorsement of 25 putative ADHD-related strengths. Participants also completed self-report measures assessing strengths knowledge, strengths use, subjective wellbeing, quality of life, and mental health. Using both Frequentist and Bayesian methods, we compared the groups and explored the associations of strengths knowledge and use with outcomes across both groups.

The ADHD group endorsed 10 strengths more strongly than the non-ADHD group, including hyperfocus, humor, and creativity, but reported similar endorsement for 14 of the strengths. Adults with and without ADHD did not differ on their strengths knowledge and use but, in both groups, increased strengths knowledge and, to some extent, greater strengths use were associated with better wellbeing, improved quality of life, and fewer mental health symptoms.

We conclude that, while adults with and without ADHD may have both similarities and differences in strengths, interventions that focus on enhancing people’s strength knowledge and promoting the everyday use of their personal strengths could have universal applications to improve wellbeing in adulthood.

Family caregivers (FCGs) may experience numerous psychosocial and practical challenges with interpersonal relationships, mental health, and finances both before and after their care recipient (CR) dies. The specific challenges affecting rural FCGs who often have limited access to palliative care services, transitional care, and other community resources are not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the challenges rural FCGs experienced immediately before the death of a CR and continuing into the bereavement period.

A secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial was conducted. The 8-week intervention included video visits between a palliative care research nurse and FCGs caring for someone with a life-limiting illness. Data were from structured interviews during nurse visits with FCGs in the intervention arm whose CR died during the intervention period.

Ninety (41.8%) of the 215 FCGs experienced the death of their CR. The majority of FCGs were female (58.9%), White (97.5%), spouses or partners (55.6%) and lived with the CR (66.7%). Most FCGs (84%) continued with intervention visits by the study nurse after the CR’s death. Visits resumed on average 7.2 days post-death. The majority of FCGs experienced challenges with grief/coping skills (56%) and interpersonal relationships/support systems (52%) both pre- and post-death of the CR. FCGs also experienced practical challenges with income/finance, housing, and communication with community resources both pre-and post-death.

Bereavement support should extend beyond a focus on grief to include practical challenges experienced by FCGs. Because challenges experienced in the bereavement period often begin before a CR’s death, there is benefit in continuity of FCG support provided by a known clinician from pre- to post-death. When given an option, many rural FCGs are open to bereavement support as early as a week after the death of a CR.

Benzodiazepines (BZ) are widely prescribed to patients with severe mental illnesses, yet their long-term impact on global health remains underinvestigated. While their symptomatic benefits are acknowledged, data on their associations with quality of life (QoL), metabolic comorbidities, and side effects are limited.

In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed clinical data from 1,248 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), or major depressive disorder at a psychiatric center in Marseille, France. Associations between BZ use and key outcomes – including QoL (Short Form Health Survey [SF-36], EuroQol-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D], and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Questionnaire - 18 items [SQoL-18]), metabolic parameters, and treatment side effects (Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale [UKU scale]) – were examined using multivariate regression analyses.

BZ use was significantly associated with lower QoL scores on physical and mental health domains of the SF-36 (p < 0.001), increased impairment across EQ-5D dimensions, and reduced subjective well-being (SQoL-18, p = 0.043). BZ users also presented higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, BZ use was independently associated with a higher burden of side effects across UKU subscales, particularly in the psychiatric domain (emotional blunting, anxiety, and depressive symptoms; p = 0.003).

These findings suggest that BZ use in severe psychiatric disorders may be linked to a substantial multidimensional health burden, including reduced QoL, greater side effect profile, and increased metabolic risk. These results highlight the need for evaluation of long-term BZ use and the promotion of safer alternative treatments.

Constipation is a significant problem for people with intellectual disabilities, with a prevalence of 33–50%, causing at least five deaths annually in England. Individualised bowel care plans (IBCP) are recommended in England and Wales.

We evaluated the feasibility and impact of IBCPs for people with intellectual disabilities who are in in-patient psychiatric units, and the effect on clinical outcomes.

People with intellectual disabilities who were at risk of constipation were recruited from four specialist in-patient psychiatric units in England and Wales. A constipation questionnaire was used to capture relevant data to devise IBCPs. Baseline, 3- and 6-monthly Health of the Nation Scales – Learning Disability (HoNOS-LD) were completed after the intervention. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank, Mann-Whitney U, repeated-measures analyses of variance, with Bonferroni adjustment and Mauchly’s tests were conducted. Significance was taken at P < 0.05.

Of 24 people with intellectual disabilities recruited from four units, all three data points were available for 18 patients. Constipation rates showed no statistically significant decline. The total HoNOS-LD score (18 items) did not decline. HoNOS-LD item 12 for physical functioning showed significant improvement for PwID with constipation compared with those without, between baseline and 6 months.

This quality improvement project suggests that a bigger study of IBCPs is feasible. Most outcomes examined via the HoNOS-LD, particularly those linked with mental illness, challenging behaviour and quality of life, did not show significant change, possibly because of the small sample size. However, people with intellectual disabilities and constipation showed positive changes in their physical functioning outcomes compared with those without constipation. Further in-depth evaluation of this intervention is needed.

To evaluate early postoperative complaints using the Palate postoperative Problems Score in patients undergoing modified barbed reposition pharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy and tonsillectomy alone.

The study included 40 patients who underwent modified barbed reposition pharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy and 18 patients who had tonsillectomy alone. Patients completed the Palate Postoperative Problems Score questionnaire at the first, third and sixth months post-operatively, and changes in their complaints were observed. Additional data included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and sleep parameters (apnea-hypopnea Index, body mass index and oxygen saturation).

In the modified barbed reposition pharyngoplasty group, Palate Postoperative Problems Scores decreased significantly from 8.85 (month 1) to 4.07 (month 6). The tonsillectomy group also showed significant improvement (from 5.28 to 2.61 by month 3).

The Palate Postoperative Problems Score questionnaire is an effective tool for assessing post-operative symptoms after palate surgery. Repeated use enables monitoring of patient recovery and the impact of tonsillectomy should be considered in Palate Postoperative Problems Score-based evaluations.

Efficacy of gastric inlet patch (GIP) ablation using argon plasma coagulation (APC) for patients presenting with persistent throat symptoms was evaluated.

Retrospective observational study from a single university hospital. Consecutive patients who had GIP ablation for persistent throat symptoms between 01/10/2018-31/10/2023 were reviewed and patients who met all of the set inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study for analysis.

50% (n = 18/36) of patients responded to APC ablation (median follow-up 3 months) with their post-ablation GETS score decreasing by 30-100%. Long-term follow-up results could be obtained from 22 patients (n = 22/36) and 75% (n = 9/12) had their clinical effects maintained (median follow-up 4.5 years; range 2.7–5.8 years).

GIP ablation can be a very effective treatment for patients with persistent throat symptoms with its therapeutic effects long-lasting. Future studies should focus on evaluating the optimal patient selection process for GIP ablation for persistent throat symptoms.

Expressive writing interventions (EWIs) are associated with important psychological and physical outcomes in patients with cancer. However, EWIs have not been widely integrated into routine psychosocial care of cancer populations. A review of the current literature on EWIs’ impact on the cancer patient experience, including qualitative analyses of patient perspectives, will increase our understanding of barriers and facilitators to adoption in clinical settings.

To bridge existing gaps in the literature by examining quantitative and qualitative studies on EWIs for patients with cancer. To present recent data examining the benefits of EWI’s for patients with cancer.To provide strategies for clinicians engaging in EWI’s for their patients.

Informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we completed a scoping review of relevant quantitative and qualitative articles published from 2015 to 2025 to assess the impact of EWIs on health-related outcomes (e.g., physical symptoms and quality of life [QOL]) as well as approaches to improve their use in patients with cancer.

Of the 28 studies with 3527 patients that we analyzed, 24 were quantitative and 4 were qualitative. Most studies were conducted in the USA (42.8%) or China (28.6%) and included patients with breast cancer (71.4%) or only included women (71.4%). Of the patients in the studies, 46.8% identified as White, 42.8% as Asian, 5.5% as Black, and 4.5% as Latino. Twenty-one of the quantitative studies found that EWIs were positively associated with cancer patients’ QOL and/or physical health outcomes. Of the 4 qualitative studies, themes of narrative reconstruction, cultural disclosure norms, and intervention delivery format emerged. The characteristics of EWI methods can be tailored to maximize therapeutic benefits through cultural adaptation, timing, and privacy.

Despite promising associations between EWIs and health-related outcomes in patients with cancer, EWIs for cancer populations are heterogeneous and randomized clinical trials are limited. Larger trials that establish the efficacy of EWIs in diverse cancer populations are warranted.

As cancer incidence and survival rates rise, caregivers responsible for providing diverse support face increased burden and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although research on web-based interventions for this group is expanding, the impact of these interventions on caregiver burden and QoL remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of web-based interventions on the caregiver burden and QoL of caregivers of patients with cancer.

Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO from database inception to 10 June 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed each study and extracted data. The risk-of-bias in the studies was evaluated using Cochrane’s Risk-of-Bias tool for randomized controlled trials. The intervention effects were calculated using R package Meta version 4.0.3, utilizing standardized mean differences (SMD; Hedge’s ĝ) to calculate pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results.

We reviewed 13 randomized controlled trials; our analysis indicated a small effect size of web-based interventions on caregiver burden (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.01). However, sensitivity analysis concluded that the effect was very small or nearly absent. Additionally, there was no statistically significant effect on QoL (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI: −0.05 to 0.36).

Web-based interventions did not significantly reduce caregiver burden or improve caregivers’ QoL. To improve caregiver burden and QoL in the future, comprehensive and tailored web-based interventions for this population are needed.

Previous meta-analysis of the efficacy of mobile phone applications (mHealth apps) for depression has several limitations, including high risk of bias and heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies, and gaps in understanding of variability in treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide more reliable and clinically relevant findings by conducting a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo, focusing on newer studies with minimal risk of bias.

Analysing 17 randomised controlled trials (n = 2821) published between 2020 and 2025, we found a pooled standardised mean difference (s.m.d.) of –0.46 (95% CI –0.64 to –0.28; P < 0.001) relative to the control groups, which indicates a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Subgroup analyses confirmed efficacy in both adolescents (s.m.d. = –0.42) and adults (s.m.d. = –0.49). Despite evidence of publication bias, 70% of the studies had a low risk of bias, supporting the robustness and reliability of these findings.

The results underscore the clinical relevance of mHealth apps as scalable and accessible tools for bridging gaps in mental healthcare. Their effectiveness across age groups highlights their potential for broad implementation, with future research needed to refine personalisation, engagement strategies and methodological rigour.