Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high mortality and imposes substantial symptom and psychological burdens; however, the impact of different treatment modalities on quality of life (QoL) and mental health remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the associations among symptom distress, depression, and QoL across various HCC treatments.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 101 inpatients at a regional hospital in Taiwan (October 2020–December 2021). Patients received hepatic resection (HR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), or immunotherapy (IT). Data were collected using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS).

RFA patients reported better functional scores (96.13 ± 7.55) and lower HADS scores (18.31 ± 4.92) than those treated with TACE, HAIC, or IT (function: 87.77 ± 17.77; HADS: 23.26 ± 7.66). These differences may reflect earlier disease stage and better baseline health in RFA recipients. Older age and advanced stage were associated with poorer global health (p < 0.05), while female gender (β = − 7.38, p = 0.014) and disease recurrence (β = − 6.48, p = 0.019) were associated with lower functional status.

Treatment type, disease stage, and demographics significantly shape QoL and mental health in HCC patients. Minimally invasive therapies like RFA may preserve QoL in early-stage disease, while invasive or palliative treatments necessitate greater psychosocial support.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function, mainly owing to increased levels of anxiety and distress.

To examine the potentially moderating effects of general psychological health on the relationships between (a) HPV-related psychosocial burden and QoL and (b) HPV-related psychosocial burden and sexual function.

The HPV Impact Profile, Female Sexual Function Index, General Health Questionnaire-28 and Life Satisfaction Inventory questionnaires were completed by 151 women.

HPV-related psychosocial burden and general psychological health accounted for 23.2% of QoL variability. There was not strong evidence for a moderating effect of general psychological health on the relationship between HPV-related psychosocial burden and QoL. Higher HPV-related psychosocial burden predicted worse sexual function on average. However, HPV-related psychosocial burden accounted for only 4.1% of sexual function variability.

Higher HPV-related psychosocial burden is associated with lower QoL as well as worse sexual function. General psychological health predicts changes in QoL over and above HPV-related psychosocial burden; thus, a deep understanding of emerging mental health issues soon after diagnosis is crucial to improve counselling and enhance women’s mental empowerment to achieve a better psychological response.

Emotional-approach coping (EAC), including emotional expression (EE) and emotional processing (EP), may impact stress and quality of life (QOL) in cancer populations, with some evidence that EAC effects vary by sex.

Men (n = 85) and women (n = 63) with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) completed the EAC Scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey (SF-36) physical component scale (PCS) and mental component scale (MCS) at study entry and 10 months later. The PROCESS macro (model 7) was used to examine the indirect effect of baseline EAC (EE, EP) on 10-month QOL (PCS, MCS) via baseline PSS, with sex as a moderator of the association between EAC and PSS (i.e., four models of moderated mediation).

Bootstrap estimates of indirect effects revealed significant moderated mediation, such that, for female participants, greater EE at study entry was associated with lower PSS, which in turn was associated with higher PCS and MCS 10 months later; whereas for males, EE was not associated with PSS and was not indirectly associated with physical and mental health-related QOL via PSS. Models examining the indirect effects of EP on QOL via PSS were nonsignificant for male and female participants.

EE is an important correlate of perceived stress for females but not males with RCC. Perceived stress early in treatment has a robust association with subsequent health-related QOL. Interventions aimed at supporting EE for females with RCC may have long-term QOL benefits.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) is designed to measure quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients receiving palliative care. The aim of this study was to translate and validate an Urdu version of the questionnaire, which was previously lacking.

Following formal approval from the EORTC, the QLQ-C15-PAL was translated into Urdu. Patients admitted under the palliative care service at a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and the Urdu QLQ-C15-PAL and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) forms were administered. Performance status was assessed using the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS). Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson correlation coefficients were determined to gauge reliability and validity. Concurrent and known-group validity were tested using ESAS responses and PPS assessments.

One hundred patients with varying primary cancer sites were included. Cronbach’s alpha for the overall questionnaire was 0.86 and was >0.8 for all subscales except fatigue, where it was 0.697. All correlations to indicate convergent validity had coefficients >0.8 and 87% of correlations between “unrelated” domains were weak, indicating discriminant validity. Known group validity was established and improved QoL was observed in the high PPS (>40) subgroup of patients across multiple domains. However, concurrent validity was not strongly established.

The Urdu QLQ-C15-PAL is a reliable and valid tool to measure QoL in cancer patients who speak Urdu. However, replication of our results in other settings is warranted.

Understanding the characteristics of older patients in primary care is important to develop appropriate and targeted programs.

We describe the characteristics of older adults (aged 70+) accessing primary care in three Canadian provinces.

Participants (n = 594) completed a survey package comprising demographics, health system usage, presence of chronic conditions, and a quality-of-life measure, the EQ-5D-5L. Frailty was assessed using a deficit accumulation frailty index (FI).

The most common chronic conditions reported were high blood pressure (51.1%), osteoarthritis (37.2%), diabetes (22.8%), and heart disease (21.8%). Mean FI was .153; 22.9 per cent were frail (FI > 0.21). Females reported higher levels of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression than males; females also reported lower levels of education and income. Mean self-rated health was similar for males and females, but a higher proportion of men reported optimal health across the EQ-5D-5L dimensions.

Our study provides benchmark and baseline data helpful to others planning primary care for older adults.

Although prior research has identified common attributes of a Good Death across cultures, few studies have simultaneously incorporated the views of patients, family caregivers, and physicians – particularly in Latin America, where structural barriers to palliative care persist. This study examines how these stakeholders in Mexico perceive and designate what constitutes a Good Death, aiming to identify its core components and cultural particularities.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 advanced-stage oncologic and nononcologic patients receiving home-based palliative care, 12 family caregivers, and 21 physicians. Data were analyzed using principles of generic purposive sampling and thematic analysis.

The most frequent designation for a Good Death was “Dignified and Peaceful Death,” perceived as a multidimensional and multitemporal process. Five core domains emerged: physical, psychological, interpersonal, spiritual, and structural. These dimensions manifested across distinct phases – before death (as preparation), during death, and after death.

A Dignified and Peaceful Death begins when individuals become aware of their mortality and encompasses cultural, emotional, and structural elements that transcend physical death. This perspective suggests that end-of-life care should respond not only to biomedical needs but also to broader existential and relational dimensions that shape patient and family experiences in resource-limited settings.

Studies have consistently found that up to 20% of people with anorexia nervosa experience a persistent illness, resulting in considerable psychosocial impairment, morbidity and mortality. This has been variously termed severe and enduring anorexia nervosa or longstanding anorexia nervosa (L-AN). Conflicting findings have hindered progress in distinguishing the nosological features of individuals with persistent illness.

This study aims to investigate the putative defining features of individuals reporting symptoms of L-AN, including consideration of their treatment trajectory.

This cross-sectional study, drawing from a mixed-methods design, utilised a sample of symptomatic individuals who reported experiencing eating disorder treatment (n = 208). Several qualitative and quantitative data strands (a–c) were embedded within a single, self-report questionnaire measuring eating disorder severity and treatment experiences. Between-group comparisons were used to compare those of shorter (<3 years) and longer (>7 years) duration of illness.

No between-group differences were found in measures of severity, including body mass index (kg/m2), eating disorder symptom scores, psychological distress or perceived health-related quality of life. However, those with L-AN had a significantly higher number of mental and physical health comorbidities, longer treatment delay, greater number of episodes of treatment and poorer subjective ratings of their treatment experiences.

Delineating L-AN by severity may be inappropriate; anorexia nervosa of any duration is a severe illness. This study suggests that treatments, or lack thereof, may have an inadvertent impact on duration of illness. Future focus needs to be on reconceptualising L-AN and its treatments. Treatment refinements informed by lived experience are proposed.

This study aimed to investigate whether seasonal epistaxis patterns differ between cases manageable in emergency departments versus those requiring hospital admission and to examine weather parameter correlations by severity category.

A retrospective severity-stratified analysis of 2,201 epistaxis presentations across two UK hospitals (January 2023–December 2024) with comprehensive weather correlation analysis was used.

Emergency department cases (1,762 presentations, 80.1 per cent) peaked in winter (475 cases, 27.0 per cent), while hospital admissions (439 cases, 19.9 per cent) peaked in spring (130 cases, 29.6 per cent). A critical 10°C temperature threshold effectively separated severity categories with high predictive accuracy.

Epistaxis demonstrates opposing seasonal patterns by clinical severity with distinct weather correlation profiles. Emergency departments should prepare for winter volume surges during cold, humid periods, whilst specialist ENT services require enhanced spring capacity during moderate temperature conditions.

Children and young people are increasingly being referred to specialist gender services, and available data on their characteristics are limited. The Longitudinal Outcomes of Gender Identity in Children (LOGIC) study is the first independently funded UK research programme to comprehensively assess quality of life, autism, service use and the psychological well-being of children and adolescents referred to gender services.

The aim of this baseline assessment is to obtain a multidimensional profile of children and young people on the waiting list for the gender service.

Data were obtained from 617 parents and caregivers and 565 children and young people, representing a quarter of those on the waiting list eligible to participate. Participants were assessed across a range of domains including gender identity, gender dysphoria, mental health and well-being, autism, physical health, service use and quality of life.

Gender dysphoria rates among our sample were high, particularly among adolescents. Almost all participants had socially transitioned. Compared with children, adolescents reported significantly poorer quality of life, particularly in relation to self-perception and psychological well-being. Relative to reference population samples, our cohort demonstrated elevated levels of mental ill health and reduced quality of life, although the magnitude of these differences varied. In addition, 59% of young people aged 11 years or over reported self-harm in the past year. Over half of the cohort had received a psychiatric diagnosis, and co-occurrence rates were high. A third of the cohort was either diagnosed with autism or undergoing assessment for autism.

Self-perception and psychological well-being represent particularly impaired quality of life dimensions for adolescents on the waiting list for the UK’s gender service. Complementing existing knowledge, differences emerged between young people and children, reflecting that the onset of puberty is a critical factor in the well-being of this cohort.

Due to frailty, chronic health issues, limited mobility, dependence on assistive devices, and polypharmacy, the geriatric population is more susceptible to the adverse effects of earthquakes. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the quality of life of older adults who experienced the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes in Türkiye on February 6, 2023.

This cross-sectional interview-based study was conducted with 340 older adults who experienced the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, and visited outpatient departments in Gaziantep. Data were gathered using a demographic form, Modified Fried Frailty Index, and WHO Quality of Life Instrument for Older Adults.

Participants’ average age was 71.37 ± 6.56 years, and 56.6% were women. Among them, 20.9% lost a first-degree relative, 15.3% were injured, and 45.3% were displaced. WHOQOL-OLD scores differed significantly by age, marital status, education, chronic illness, polypharmacy, living arrangements, and frailty.

This study highlights the factors influencing the quality of life of older adults in Türkiye after an earthquake. Living with a spouse and having primary or secondary education improved quality of life, while chronic illnesses and displacement had negative impacts. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the specific needs of older adults in disaster preparedness and response.