"iDoctor – Medical Blog"

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: DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01191.x.© 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.Objectives [ndash] The well-being and physical function among patients with ALS and their next of kin was studied over time.Materials and methods [ndash] 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[ndash]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 [ndash] 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 [ndash] 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.

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