| OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of life (QOL) of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases in Chongqing city and the influence of population and psychosocial factors on it, with the aim of providing reference for the improvement of QOL in these people.METHODSStratified random sampling method was used in 345 home elderly patients with chronic diseases in Yuzhong and Jiulongpo Districts. These elders were asked to fill in the version 2 of SF-36, Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS). The investigation data was disposed and analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software.The statistical methods included description statistics, t test, variance analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis.RESULTS(1) The eight dimension scores of SF-36 of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases in Chongqing city were ranked from high to low according to the following order: bodily pain, Physical Functioning, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, Role-physical, Vitality, General Health. Scores above 50 points in Physical Component Summary (PCS) , Mental Component Summary (MCS) and QOL respectively accounted for 66.1%, 61.5%, 66.4%.(2) The sex has no influence to QOL, but age, educational level, living pattern, marital status, income, medical payment and the number of diseases have influence to QOL of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases.(3) The average scores of subjective support, objective support, support application and social support of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases were lower than national norm (P < 0.01). The average score of positive coping styles was lower than national norm and that of negative coping styles higher than national norm (P < 0.01). The average score of GDS was 11.40±5.10. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 38.8%.(4) The scores of eight dimensions of SF-36 were positively correlated to subjective support, objective support, support application, social support and positive coping styles of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated to negative coping styles (P < 0.01).(5) The multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated the factors that would affect PCS of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases included social support, negative coping styles, the number of diseases, objective support, depression and age. The factors that would affect MCS included social support, depression, positive coping styles, support application, age and living pattern.CONCLUSION(1) Most QOL of in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases in Chongqing city were higher than the medium. The QOL of these people affected by several demographic and psychosocial factors.(2) To improve the QOL for in-home elderly patients with chronic diseases, health workers should focus on patients who were senior citizens, living alone, suffering from various chronic diseases, depressive, low social support and tending to adopt negative coping styles.(3) To improve the QOL of these people, social security for elderly patients with chronic diseases should be perfected and the community health service for these people should be improved. We should also strengthen their mental health education to enhance their mental control, reduce negative emotions and negative coping styles and improve the level of social support and positive coping styles. |
