<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Objectives. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures a patient’s subjective experience of his or her health status. We aimed to show how the presence of chronic diseases and satisfaction with family physicians (FPs) were associated with the HRQoL of a Roma population. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in May 2011 on a representative sample of 650 Roma living in Prekmurje, Slovenia. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used for measuring the HRQoL of the Roma. Demographical data, 12 groups of diseases diagnosed in the last 12 months and satisfaction with FPs were included in the questionnaire. Results. The response rate was 88.3% (574), of which 56.4% were female, and the average age of the participants had a mean value of 40.2±12.7 years. The presence of cardiovascular problems with risk factors for them or presence of musculoskeletal disorders were strongly associated with the presence of pain (Cramer’s V = 0.40 and 0.46 respectively).There was a strong association between the presence of mental disorders and anxiety and depression (Cramer´s V = 0.58). The average satisfaction with the family physician was 3.9 (mean±1.10) on a five-point Likert scale. There was no significant association between HRQoL and satisfaction with the family physician. Conclusions. Roma with chronic mental health problems had the lowest HRQoL in the Roma population. More attention should be paid to this subgroup of Roma in family medicine, and interventions should be provided. High satisfaction with their FPs is not associated with the observed quality of life variables</abstract>

Objectives. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures a patient’s subjective experience of his or her health status. We aimed to show how the presence of chronic diseases and satisfaction with family physicians (FPs) were associated with the HRQoL of a Roma population. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in May 2011 on a representative sample of 650 Roma living in Prekmurje, Slovenia. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used for measuring the HRQoL of the Roma. Demographical data, 12 groups of diseases diagnosed in the last 12 months and satisfaction with FPs were included in the questionnaire. Results. The response rate was 88.3% (574), of which 56.4% were female, and the average age of the participants had a mean value of 40.2±12.7 years. The presence of cardiovascular problems with risk factors for them or presence of musculoskeletal disorders were strongly associated with the presence of pain (Cramer’s V = 0.40 and 0.46 respectively).There was a strong association between the presence of mental disorders and anxiety and depression (Cramer´s V = 0.58). The average satisfaction with the family physician was 3.9 (mean±1.10) on a five-point Likert scale. There was no significant association between HRQoL and satisfaction with the family physician. Conclusions. Roma with chronic mental health problems had the lowest HRQoL in the Roma population. More attention should be paid to this subgroup of Roma in family medicine, and interventions should be provided. High satisfaction with their FPs is not associated with the observed quality of life variables

Quality of Life And Patient Satisfaction with Family Practice Care in a Roma Population With Chronic Conditions in Northeast Slovenia / Kakovost Življenja V Povezavi S Kroničnimi Boleznimi In Z Zadovoljstvom Z Oskrbo Zdravnika Družinske Medicine Med Romskim Prebivalstvom V Sv Sloveniji

University of Maribor, Medical Faculty, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Objectives. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures a patient’s subjective experience of his or her health status. We aimed to show how the presence of...

Quality of Life And Patient Satisfaction with Family Practice Care in a Roma Population With Chronic Conditions in Northeast Slovenia / Kakovost Življenja V Povezavi S Kroničnimi Boleznimi In Z Zadovoljstvom Z Oskrbo Zdravnika Družinske Medicine Med Romskim Prebivalstvom V Sv Sloveniji

Published Online: Dec 30, 2014

Page range: 18 - 26

Received: Aug 12, 2014

Accepted: Nov 09, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2015-0003

Keywords
Roma, quality of life, patient satisfaction, chronic diseases, mental health

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Quality of Life And Patient Satisfaction with Family Practice Care in a Roma Population With Chronic Conditions in Northeast Slovenia / Kakovost Življenja V Povezavi S Kroničnimi Boleznimi In Z Zadovoljstvom Z Oskrbo Zdravnika Družinske Medicine Med Romskim Prebivalstvom V Sv Sloveniji

Published Online: Dec 30, 2014

Page range: 18 - 26

Received: Aug 12, 2014

Accepted: Nov 09, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2015-0003

KeywordsRoma, quality of life, patient satisfaction, chronic diseases, mental health

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Roma, quality of life, patient satisfaction, chronic diseases, mental health