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Well‐being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their next of kin over time
Author(s) -
Olsson A. G.,
Markhede I.,
Strang S.,
Persson L. I.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01191.x
Subject(s) - next of kin , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , psychology , well being , medicine , disease , psychotherapist , pathology , archaeology , history
Olsson AG, Markhede I, Strang S, Persson LI. Well‐being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their next of kin over time.
Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 244–250.
© 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Objectives – The well‐being and physical function among patients with ALS and their next of kin was studied over time. Materials and methods – Thirty‐five patients with ALS and their next of kin were studied with respect to physical, general and psychological well‐being by the visual analogue scale (VAS) every 4–6 months. Physical function in patients was rated by the ALSFRS‐R and the Norris scale. Patients and next of kin rated the well‐being of themselves and their counterpart. Results – The well‐being was stable and there was a relation between the well‐being of patients and next of kin throughout the time studied. Next of kin rated the well‐being of the patients worse than patients rated themselves, while patients rated the well‐being of their next of kin at the same level as their counterpart. Conclusions – The basic state of well‐being as well as the interaction between patient and next of kin seem to be factors that influence the well‐being of both patients and their next of kin.