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전시자/Chon, Si Ja
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to review the studies about quality of life of chronic patients and to explore the areas needed for further researches to provide better care of chronic patients.
The researches reviewed by this study were selected on the basis of the available articles from the Medicus Index under the title of Quality of life between the period of 1983 to 1986, and some of the studies referred by these articles.
There were 17 descriptive studies of single group patients, 6 descriptive studies of comparable groups, 2 experimental studies, and 6 studies of instrument development, totaling 31 studies.
The findings of the analysis can be summarized as follows:
1) There were no agreed definition about quality of life. Different researchers used the concept with different connotations. Some studies lacked definition all together. The operational definition could be summarized into two major areas: subjective and objective aspects. Subjective aspects included perceived satisfaction of general life, physical, social, psychological, sexual, and physical activities. Objective aspects referred job situation, symptoms, health, and sexual life.
2) Instruments used for the studies are from two sources: One those borrowed from social science area, and the other, those developed for the particular study purpose. Most studies of instrument development showed adequate reliability and validity. However, they were considered inappropriate to establish test-retest reliability of symptom subsection of the instruments for cancer patients, and to use survival time as a criterion for a predictive validity of the instrument.
The studies other than developing instruments lacked both reliability and validity of the instruments.
3) The results of descriptive studies of chronic patients were controversial. Some reported that there were no changes in quality of life, while others found that there were significant decrease.
4) The studies which compared quality of life between groups showed that patients with renal transplants had higher level of quality of life than those underwent hemodialysis. Coronary artery disease (CAD) patients showed higher level of quality of life than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Also the life quality of those who had surgical interventions for CAD was higher than those who had medical treatments, and patients with low sphincter saving operation for rectal cancer had higher quality of life than those with abdominoperineal resection.
The following suggestions are made based on the above findings:
1) There is a need to carry out systematic studies about the concept of quality of life.
2) Instrument development to measure quality of life on the bases of conceptual framework are deemed necessary.
3) Relationship between subjective and objective aspects of quality of life need to be studied.
4) Factors influencing quality of life of chronic patients should be investigated further.
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KeyWords
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원문 및 링크아웃 정보
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등재저널 정보
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