Examining Loneliness: A Comparative Analysis of Face-to-Face, Telephone, and Online Communication among Japanese Young Adults

(1) Background: Loneliness is inherently linked to social connections, with interpersonal communication playing a pivotal role. Despite this connection, limited research exists on the relationship between loneliness and communication among young adults. This study investigates the correlation between face-to-face, telephone, and online communication frequencies and loneliness among individuals in their 20s. (2) Methods: Using a dataset from a nationwide survey conducted by the Japanese Cabinet Office, this study focuses on 1812 respondents aged 20–30, selected from a random sample of 20,000 individuals aged 16 and older across Japan. (3) Results: A Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis reveals a significant association between communication frequency and loneliness, even after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Notably, decreased communication frequency across all modalities correlated with increased loneliness. Online communication exhibited the highest impact, followed by face-to-face communication, with phone call communication ranking last. (4) Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of seamlessly integrating social networking service (SNS)-based communication with various forms of social interaction. A well-balanced integration of these approaches is crucial for mitigating loneliness among young individuals and promoting positive mental health outcomes

Comparison of corneal thickness in patients with dry eye disease using the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera and anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

The purpose of this study was to compare central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, and the thinnest point of the cornea between Pentacam and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) in patients with dry eye disease (DED). This cross-sectional study included 195 participants between November 2015-June 2017. DED was diagnosed using the Asia Dry Eye Society criteria and further divided into mild and severe DED based on kerato-conjunctival vital staining. Central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, and the thinnest point of the cornea measured by Pentacam and ASOCT were compared, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were estimated. The differences in central corneal thickness and the thinnest corneal thickness between Pentacam and ASOCT were analysed using Bland-Altman and multivariate regression analyses adjusted for age and sex. This study included 70 non-DED subjects and 52 patients with mild and 73 with severe DED. The Pentacam and ASOCT measurements of central corneal thickness and thinnest corneal thickness were strongly correlated, but the respective values were higher when measured with Pentacam. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed differences in central corneal thickness (non DED, 11.8; mild DED, 13.2; severe DED, 19.6) and in thinnest corneal thickness (non DED, 13.1; mild DED, 13.4; severe DED, 20.7). After adjusting for age and sex, the differences in central corneal thickness (β = 7.029 μm, 95%CI 2.528-11.530) and thinnest corneal thickness (β = 6.958 μm, 95%CI 0.037-13.879) were significantly increased in the severe-DED group. The distribution of the thinnest point of the cornea in the cornea's inferior temporal quadrant between Pentacam and ASOCT deviated in severe DED (Pentacam: 90.4% vs. ASOCT: 83.6%). Clinicians should consider that there were significant differences in corneal-morphology assessment between the measurements with Pentacam and ASOCT in severe DED

A Review of Dry Eye Questionnaires: Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life.

Dry eye disease (DED) is among the most common eye diseases and is becoming increasingly prevalent. Its symptoms cause a long-term decline in patients\u27 health-related quality of life (HRQL). Inconsistencies often occur between the clinical findings and the subjective symptoms of DED. Therefore, a holistic, balanced, and quantitative evaluation of the subjective symptoms and HRQL using patient-reported outcome questionnaires, in addition to clinical findings, is crucial for accurate DED assessment in patients. This paper reviewed the characteristics of current dry eye questionnaires, including their objectives, number of questions, inclusion of HRQL-related items, and whether they were properly evaluated for psychometric properties. Twenty-four questionnaires were identified; among them, the following six questionnaires that included items assessing HRQL and were properly evaluated for psychometric properties are recommended: the Ocular Surface Disease Index, Impact of Dry Eye in Everyday Life, Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-life Score, University of North Carolina Dry Eye Management Scale, Chinese version of Dry Eye-Related Quality of Life, and 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. Dry eye questionnaires have different objectives and are available in different languages. Therefore, medical practitioners should confirm the characteristics of applicable questionnaires before selecting the most appropriate ones

A Review of Dry Eye Questionnaires: Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life

Dry eye disease (DED) is among the most common eye diseases and is becoming increasingly prevalent. Its symptoms cause a long-term decline in patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQL). Inconsistencies often occur between the clinical findings and the subjective symptoms of DED. Therefore, a holistic, balanced, and quantitative evaluation of the subjective symptoms and HRQL using patient-reported outcome questionnaires, in addition to clinical findings, is crucial for accurate DED assessment in patients. This paper reviewed the characteristics of current dry eye questionnaires, including their objectives, number of questions, inclusion of HRQL-related items, and whether they were properly evaluated for psychometric properties. Twenty-four questionnaires were identified; among them, the following six questionnaires that included items assessing HRQL and were properly evaluated for psychometric properties are recommended: the Ocular Surface Disease Index, Impact of Dry Eye in Everyday Life, Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-life Score, University of North Carolina Dry Eye Management Scale, Chinese version of Dry Eye-Related Quality of Life, and 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. Dry eye questionnaires have different objectives and are available in different languages. Therefore, medical practitioners should confirm the characteristics of applicable questionnaires before selecting the most appropriate ones

Comparing the Japanese Version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index and Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score for Dry Eye Symptom Assessment

The aim of this study was to compare patient-reported symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) between the Japanese version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (J-OSDI) and the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS). A total of 169 participants were enrolled between September 2017 and May 2018. Patients were administered the J-OSDI and DEQS questionnaires at their first (baseline) and follow-up visits to evaluate DED-related symptoms. The correlations between the J-OSDI total score and DEQS (Frequency and Degree) scores were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and their clinical differences were assessed using the Bland–Altman analysis. At the baseline visit, the J-OSDI score and DEQS (Frequency and Degree) were significantly correlated (r = 0.855, r = 0.897, respectively). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the J-OSDI score and DEQS (Frequency and Degree) at the follow-up visit (r = 0.852, r = 0.888, respectively). The Bland–Altman analysis revealed a difference (bias) of 4.18 units at the baseline and 4.08 units at the follow-up between the scores of the two questionnaires. The J-OSDI and DEQS were significantly correlated with negligible score differences, suggesting that the J-OSDI can be reliably used for Japanese patients, allowing for cross-country comparisons