scholarly journals Assessment of Quality of Life of Epileptic Patients in Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Esileman Abdela Muche ◽  
Mohammed Biset Ayalew ◽  
Ousman Abubeker Abdela

Background. Patients with epilepsy are at an increased risk of poor quality of life. Purpose. We aimed at assessing the quality of life and its determinants among epileptic patients at University of Gondar Referral Hospital (UoGRH), Ethiopia. Methods. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on epileptic patients on follow up at UoGRH from January 15 to April 15, 2017. Information including socio-demographic profile and diagnosis was extracted from medical records and patients. Quality Of Life In Epilepsy-10 (QOLIE-10) tool was used to measure the quality of life. Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to look for factors associated with quality of life. The level of statistical significance was declared at P-value ≤ 0.05. Results. A total of 354 patients were included in the study and mean age was 29.1 ± 11.7 years. The mean QOLIE-10 score was 19.85. One hundred ninety-four (54.8%) of participants had a good quality of life. Being illiterate, unemployment, and presence of co-morbid medical condition were associated with poorer quality of life. Conclusion. Nearly half of the participants had a poor quality of life. Patients with co-morbidity, illiteracy, and unemployment should be given special emphasis in order to improve their quality of life.

Author(s):  
Kosisochi Chinwendu Amorha ◽  
Ebere Emilia Ayogu ◽  
Blessing Adaora Ngwoke ◽  
Eleje Oboma Okonta

Introduction: The burden of uncontrolled asthma is high and caregivers can offer support in the management of asthma. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and quality of life (QoL) of caregivers toward asthma in their children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Paediatric Respiratory Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State (July 2017-September 2017). We utilized a 46-item questionnaire comprising knowledge and attitude domains and the 13-item Pediatric Asthma Caregiver’s QoL Questionnaire (PACQLQ). Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 25.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Fifty-one caregivers participated in the study. More than half (n = 36, 70.6%) of the caregivers were 40 years old and above, female (n = 37, 72.5%), graduates from higher institutions (n = 33, 64.7%), and self-employed (n = 27, 52.9%). About a quarter (n = 13, 25.5%) had a family history of asthma and a similar proportion (n = 14, 27.5%) knew the three main symptoms of asthma. Conclusion: Less than half (n = 24, 47.1%) of the caregivers had good asthma knowledge. Dust (n = 35, 68.6%) and smoke (n = 31, 60.8%) were identified as the most common asthma triggers in their children. The majority of the caregivers (n = 41, 80.3%) agreed that most people can have well-controlled asthma without seeing a doctor regularly. Overall, less than half of the caregivers (n = 24, 47.1%) showed positive attitudes toward their children’s asthma. The overall score for the PACQLQ was 3.91 (0.98) which implied a poor QoL. The caregivers had both impaired activity and emotional function from managing asthma in their children. More female caregivers had better knowledge about asthma than their male counterparts (t = −3.178; df = 49; p = 0.003). Less than half of the caregivers had good asthma knowledge and positive attitudes toward asthma in their children. They had an impaired QoL from managing asthma in their children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Obiri Asante ◽  
Meng Jie Li ◽  
Jing Liao ◽  
Yi Xiang Huang ◽  
Yuan Tao Hao

Abstract Background Healthcare workers are often exposed to stressful working conditions at work which affect their quality of life. The study investigated the relationship between psychosocial risk factors, stress, burnout, and quality of life among primary healthcare workers in general medical practice in Qingyuan and Chaozhou cities in Guangdong province. Method The cross-sectional study was conducted in 108 primary health facilities including 36 community health centers (CHCs) across two developing cities in Guangdong province. A total of 873 healthcare workers completed the questionnaires. Quality of life was evaluated using The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and psychological risk factors were evaluated by the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). General quality of life and the quality of life domains were transformed into a score range from minimum 0 to 100 maximum. Higher scores indicated better quality of life and vice versa. Significant associations were verified using multiple regression analysis. Results Poor quality of life was observed in 74.6% of healthcare workers surveyed. General poor quality of life was significantly higher among workers who reported higher burnout (Beta = − 0.331, p < 0.001). In addition, workers with high levels of burnout, unmarried workers and female workers had a higher possibility of physical health. A greater risk of poor psychological health was observed among workers with high burnout, poor sense of community and those with lower educational levels. Workers who lacked social support, those with fewer possibilities for development had increased probability of poor quality of life in the social domain. Poor quality of life in the environmental domain was observed among workers who were dissatisfied with their jobs and workers with low salaries. Conclusions Primary healthcare workers in developing cities in China have a highly demanding and strained working environment and poor quality of life. Reducing job stress and improving work conditions may ultimately improve the well-being of primary healthcare workers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tolesa Fanta ◽  
Desalegn Bekele ◽  
Getinet Ayano

Abstract Background Depression is common among people with schizophrenia and associated with severe positive and negative symptoms, higher rates of disability, treatment resistance and mortality related to suicide, physical and drug-related causes. However, to our knowledge, no study has been conducted to report the magnitude of depression among people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression among people with schizophrenia. Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 patients with schizophrenia selected by systematic sampling technique. Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression among the study participants. To identify the potential contributing factors, we performed binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting the model for the potential confounding factors. Odds ratios (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI)) was determined to evaluate the strength of association. Result The prevalence estimate of depression among people with schizophrenia was found to be 18.0% [95% confidence interval: 14.50–22.30]. Our multivariable analysis revealed that current substance use (AOR 2.28, 95%CI (1.27, 4.09), suicide attempt (AOR 5.24, 95%CI (2.56, 10.72), duration of illness between 6 and 10 years (AOR 2.09, 95%CI (1.08, 4.04) and poor quality of life (AOR 3.13, 95%CI (1.79, 5.76) were found to be the factors associated with depression among people with schizophrenia. Conclusion The current study revealed that comorbid depression was high among people with schizophrenia and associated with current substance use, suicide attempt, and long duration of the illness as well as poor quality of life. Attention needs to be given to address comorbid depression among people with schizophrenia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Len A. Camaclang-Balmores ◽  
Ma. Lorna F. Frez ◽  
Patricia A. Nacianceno ◽  
Jay-V James G. Barit

Objective. To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its association with quality of life (QOL) among Filipino adult psoriasis vulgaris patients. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient dermatology department of a tertiary hospital, using a semi-structured, interview-guided questionnaire, and a self-administered QOL questionnaire, the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Results. A total of 135 Filipino adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris were included. The prevalence of CAM use was 47%, with most CAM users being female and single. Completion of tertiary education was found significantly associated with CAM use (p < 0.05). A greater body surface area involvement and longer disease duration were more common among CAM users but these were not statistically significant. Special diet (56.3%) was the most commonly used type of CAM, followed by herbal medicine (46.9%), bath therapy (18.9%) and faith healing (12.5%). Major sources of CAM information were families (43.8%), internet/social media (28.1%) and health professionals (25%). Around 40% of the participants used CAM out of curiosity. The mean DLQI score of the respondents was 11.3 (±7.3) corresponding to poor quality of life. CAM use was significantly associated with negative impact on physical symptoms and feelings, daily activities, and work and school (P = 0.044; P = 0.019; P = 0.047). After adjusting for confounding variables, patients with poor QOL were twice more likely to use CAM but this was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-3.95; P = 0.17). Conclusions. The use of CAM is prevalent among Filipino adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The significant association between CAM use and a poor quality of life may reflect the unmet physical and psychosocial needs of patients. A patient-perspective approach should acknowledge the reasons for CAM use, which could guide the physicians in imparting available scientific evidence, or the lack thereof, for the use of CAM to these patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rejoice Tlangelani Mashaba ◽  
Fezile Khumalo ◽  
Andy Beke

Abstract Background: The quality of life (QoL) of tuberculosis (TB) patients may predict treatment outcomes. Little is known about the QoL of patients with TB and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-morbidity, especially in South African settings. We investigate the QoL of TB patients with and without HIV at the Witbank TB Hospital in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods: In a cross-sectional analytical study, 124 patients with confirmed TB, with or without HIV co-infection, were recruited from September 2018 to October 2018. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with participants, helping them to complete a standardized short form-12 (SF-12) QoL questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS and SAS software. Differences between groups were quantified using t-test. Logistic regression analysis identified explanatory variables predicting mental (MCS) health and physical (PCS) health. Results: For all sub-scales of the SF-12 instrument, Cronbach’s alpha > 0.8 demonstrating high internal consistency. Patients with TB/HIV co-morbidity had lower scores in all dimensions (p<0.05), indicating poor QoL compared to TB patients without HIV. In multivariate analysis, the family size was predictive of physical health QoL. TB patients who were staying in a household with more than four family members were 2.12 times more likely to have better QoL compared to TB patients living in households with fewer than four family members, OR= 2.33 (95% CI: 1.12 to 4.98); p<0.05). Conclusions: Patients who are co-infected with TB and HIV, in this setting, have poorer QoL than patients who are only infected with TB. Our results support the development of strategies to improve QoL that consider the physical and mental wellbeing of TB/HIV co-infected patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Warut Aunjitsakul ◽  
Jarurin Pitanupong

Objective: To estimate the level of quality of life (QoL), emotional intelligence (EI) and the association between QoL and EI in schizophreniaMaterial and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient department of Songklanagarind Hospital from; May to November, 2016. A total of 96 participants were interviewed. Demographic data and medical history were collected. QoL and EI were assessed using the WHO QOL BREF (Best available techniques REFerence document) Thai version and the Thai EI Screening Test for ages of 18-60. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression.Results: Our subjects were predominantly single males. Sixty-seven point seven percent of the participants were poor to moderate QoL while only two factors significantly related to their poor to moderate QoL; difficulties from psychiatric conditions and a lower level of life satisfaction. Fifty-seven point four to eighty-seven point two percent of the participants were generally within normal EI in every subscale. Moreover, there was statistical significance for positive relationships between EI with QoL in schizophrenia.Conclusion: The high prevalence of schizophrenia was a moderate QoL. A positive relationship of individual subscales of EI towards QoL was substantially found.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Maniragaba ◽  
Betty Kwagala ◽  
Emmanuel Bizimungu ◽  
Stephen Ojiambo Wandera ◽  
James Ntozi

Background: Little is known about the quality of life of older persons (OPs) in Uganda in particular, and Africa in general. This study examined factors associated with quality of life of older persons in rural Uganda. Method: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 912 older persons from the four regions of Uganda. Data were analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate level where ordinal logistic regression was applied. Results: Older persons in northern (OR=0.39; CI=0.224-0.711) and western (OR=0.33; CI=0.185-0.594) regions had poor quality of life relative to those in central region. Those who were HIV positive had poor quality of life (OR=0.45; CI=0.220-0.928) compared to those who were HIV negative. In contrast, living in permanent houses predicted good quality of life (OR=2.04; CI=1.391-3.002). Older persons whose household assets were controlled by their spouses were associated with good quality of life (OR=2.06;CI=1.032-4.107) relative to those whose assets were controlled by their children. Conclusion: Interventions mitigating the HIV and AIDS related Quality of life should target older persons. The government of Uganda should consider improving housing conditions for older persons in rural areas.


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