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Health-related Quality Of Life Of Diabetes Mellitus Patients And Non-diabetics
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Researchers
report lower HRQOL in people diagnosed with diabetes than for
non-diabetic (Andayani, Ibrahim & Aside, 2010; Odili et al, 2010).
In Nigeria, studies of HRQOL with diabetics have been carried out at the
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) (Odili et al., 2010) and
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) (Issa & Baiyewu,
2006). UBTH study concluded that diabetes impacts on the lives of
diabetic patients while UITH study concluded that lower income, lower
education, low rated employment and physical complications adversely
affect the HRQOL of patients with diabetes mellitus. Both studies dwelt
on the psychosocial aspects of the diabetics. This study therefore
assessed the HRQOL of patients with diabetes mellitus in Port Harcourt.
Statement of Problem
Diabetes
mellitus is a chronically distressful illness with which to live.
Polonsky, (2000) stated that for many patients the demand of self-care
can be burdensome, frustrating and overwhelming. According to Kubler
Ross, (1969), in Berman, Synder, Kozier & Erb, (2008), the
individual has to pass through the stages of grief which are denial,
anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance on diagnosis.
People
living with diabetes mellitus pass through a lot of stress in order to
live. The disease, as a chronic illness, places serious constraints on
the peoples’ activities due to its manifold demands. Individuals with
diabetes have to think of what to eat and when to eat, exercise, decide
whether to test plasma glucose and depending on the result, plan when to
eat or take their drugs (insulin or tablets). They also carry along
with them glucose drinks for fear of hypoglycaemia and usually stop to
check the symptoms of hypo or hyperglycaemia. To crown it
all, they are always gripped with the fear of complications especially
foot complications and amputation. A good number of patients become
frustrated, discouraged and/or engaged with a disease that often does
not seem to respond to their best efforts. This, Rubin (2000), referred
to as “diabetes overwhelmusâ€. Diabetes can exert an enormous negative
impact on QOL in the area of social and psychological well-being, as
well as physical ill-health and environmental health. As the disease
progresses, psychosocial problems imernate from onset of complications,
medical and self- management. To what extent do the disease and its
management impact on the QOL of the patients? This study therefore
assessed the HRQOL of patients with diabetes mellitus.
Purpose of the Study
The
purpose of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life
(HRQOL) of patients with diabetes mellitus attending the diabetic clinic
of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, and compare with
that of non-diabetic persons resident in Port Harcourt. The
non-diabetics are comparable normal persons drawn from the same
catchment area of the hospital. They are matching group.
Objectives of the Study
The study objectives were to:
1.
Determine the HRQOL scores of patients with diabetes mellitus and the
non-diabetic group in all the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF.
2.
Compare the HRQOL scores of diabetes mellitus patients with
non-diabetic group in all the four domains of the World Health
Organization Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF).
3. Compare the
HRQOL scores of DM patients with co-morbidities with the scores of DM
patients without co-morbidities in the four domains of WHOQOL-BREF.
4. Determine the influence of socio-demographic variables on the HRQOL overall mean score of the DM patients.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Nigeria has the highest number of diabetics in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a chronic illness, diabetes mellitus (DM) places serious constraints on the people living with diabetes mellitus. The short-term and long-term complications affecting the physical, psychological and social functioning of diabetics can impinge on their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study assessed and compared the HRQOL of diabetic patients and non-diabetics in Por Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Four objectives ... Continue reading---
