Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Ghana
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Background
Over the last decades, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes have remarkably increased due to rapid urbanization, unhealthy lifestyles, and ageing. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the “diabetes epidemic” will continue in the coming decades, yielding enormous human and economic costs around the world. This study aims at accessing the health-related Quality of Life (QoL) of Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Ghana.
Method
This was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the 3 regions in Ghana among 1194 patients with type 2 diabetes who were seeking healthcare at the regional hospitals of the selected regions for at least 12 months. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in recruiting the participants. The WHOQOL-BREF tool was adopted to assess the health-related QoL of diabetic patients. Data was analyzed using STATA version 16.1, and the findings were presented in the tables. Statistical significance was set at (P < 0.05).
Results
Out of the 1194 participants, 90% (1079) reported a satisfactory quality of life. The majority (60.3%) of participants were above 50 years of age. The overall mean score of the QoL was 6.25 (±1.28) for all four domains: psychological, physical, social, relationship, and environmental health. Marital status, occupational status, and self-reported health status predicted overall QOL. Males have a better quality of life than females, and those below 50 also have a better quality of life than those above 50. Similarly, those employed had a better quality of life than the unemployed; however, those who were married, unmarried, educated, and non-educated had no significant differences in their quality of life. Sex was associated with all the domains. Marital status was associated with the environmental, social, and psychological domains. Age was associated with psychological and physical domains. On predictors of quality of life, all demographic variables (age, sex, educational status, marital status, and employment status) predicted quality of life across all domains.
Conclusion
This study provided valuable insights on predictors of health-related QoL among type 2 diabetic patients in Ghana, which would guide policymakers, healthcare providers, and stakeholders in improving diabetes management and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with diabetes in Ghana. Evidence-based interventions should be implemented to address the factors influencing the QoL of diabetic patients in Ghana.
