title: The influence of the functional capacity on subjective well-being and quality of life of patients with silicosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Silicosis is a fibrosing and irreversible lung disease. In China, 9870 new silicosis cases were reported in 2010. The physical and mental status of patients with silicosis should be paid attention to. The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of the patients' functional capacity on subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL), provide the scientific basis for further intervention measures, and improve their health status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 324 inpatients with silicosis during April 2011 to September 2011. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was the major methodology used to evaluate the functional capacity, the SF-12 (Short Form-12) to evaluate the QOL, and the MUNSH (Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness) scale to evaluate the SWB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distance of 6MWT suggested a significant and positive correlation with SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis (P < 0.01). In China, patients with silicosis had low SWB and QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis are still relatively low and their health status needs improvement. At the same time, longer distances walked by patients suggest more positive influences on their SWB and QOL. It indicates that when the 6MWT cooperates with SWB and QOL, it may be able to get more accurate evaluation results of patients' survival status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinkai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xibing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012829:Silicosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking