Assessment of the perceived impact of diabetes on quality of life in a group of South African diabetic patients
Date
2008-12
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine perceived Quality of Life (QOL) of the diabetic patient and
to assess whether QOL is associated with diabetes-related markers.
DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross sectional study.
SETTING: A multiethnic group of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients (n= 68) attending a
diabetic clinic in Alberton, South Africa, were evaluated.
SUBJECTS OUTCOME MEASURES: QOL was assessed by means of the Audit of
Diabetes-Dependant Quality of Life (ADDQoL) questionnaire. Glycaemic control, duration
of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), type of DM, diabetic complications, level of education and
nutritional status were evaluated.
RESULTS: Ninety eight percent of diabetic patients perceived their DM to impact
negatively on their QOL (p=0.03). QOL and glycaemic control were significantly (p=0.03)
related. QOL and the duration (p=0.80) or type (p=0.77) of DM were not significantly
related. QOL ratings were lower in participants who had hypertension and hyperlipidaemia,
whereas this trend was not present in those with microvascular complications. There was a
trend towards a negative relationship between QOL and weight (p=0.10), BMI (p=0.10)
and WC (p=0.41). All 13 individual life domains were significantly related (p < 0.05) to
QOL for the group as a whole. Rankings of individual life domains differed between type 1
and type 2 diabetics (p<0.05) as well as between black and white subjects (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that DM impacts on various aspects of QOL and
that various population sub-groups perceive their DM to impact differently on their QOL.
QOL assessments should therefore form part of DM management and should be culturally
sensitive.
Description
Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Diabetes in South Africa, Type 2 diabetes, QOL of diabetes, Diabetes mellitus, Dissertations -- Nutrition, Theses -- Nutrition