The Perceived Quality of Life amongst Diabetic Patients Attending the Outpatient Department at a District Hospital in South Africa
Abstract:
Diabetes is one of the most prominent chronic diseases in the world today. South Africa has the highest prevalence of this disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of treatment is not solely symptom remission but a comprehensive approach to enhancing the overall quality of life despite the limitations connected with the disease. The study aimed to assess the influence of socio-demographic factors with the perceived quality of life amongst diabetic patients attending the Outpatient Department at a District Hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 270 diabetic patients from November 2016 to January 2017 in a district hospital. A researcher-administered questionnaire, using the modified version of the Short Form 36 -2 tool, was used to collect data on the socio-demographic, clinical characteristics, and quality of life. The analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The mean age was 55 years, and the seventy-four percent of the participants had been diagnosed with diabetes within the past five years. The mean scores for quality of life were 50.44 and 51.38 for the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Health Component Summary, respectively. Regression analysis showed that being married, having education, and not having co-morbid diseases were protective factors associated with the physical component of quality of life. Health workers should consider symptom stressors, functional status, emotional well-being/mental health, and the multiple chronic diseases of the patients during the assessment. Allied health workers play a significant role in the life of diabetic patients.References:
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