<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3>
<p>Palliative care is a form of medical care that focuses on providing comfort and pain relief to patients with severe, incurable diseases. The World Health Organization defines quality of life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”. Quality of life and palliative medicine represent two aspects that should be inseparable in the comprehensive care and treatment of a patient at the end of life.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>The aim of this study was to assess quality of life among patients under palliative care using the WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D questionnaire.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Material and methods</h3>
<p>The study included 100 consecutive patients admitted to palliative care between September 2018 and January 2019 being treated in a hospice and at home. A three-part survey process was used to collect data, including the following: Demographic Data Form; WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire; EQ-5D questionnaire.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was analyzed for 4 domains. The study obtained the following results: Domain 1=40.2; Domain 2=39.94; Domain 3=36.1; Domain 4=37.7. According to the guidelines of the EQ-5D questionnaire, it was shown that 43% of patients are unable to walk or have serious problems with walking, 59% of patients are unable or have serious problems with self-care, 61% of patients are unable or have serious problems with ordinary activities, 52% of patients have severe or extreme pain/discomfort, 65% of patients are very anxious or depressed.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>1. The study showed that patients covered by palliative care present low indicators of quality of life.</p>
<p>2. According to the data obtained, palliative care programs should pay special attention to the improvement of quality of life by taking an interdisciplinary approach to its resources.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background
Palliative care is a form of medical care that focuses on providing comfort and pain relief to patients with severe, incurable diseases. The World Health Organization defines quality of life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”. Quality of life and palliative medicine represent two aspects that should be inseparable in the comprehensive care and treatment of a patient at the end of life.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess quality of life among patients under palliative care using the WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D questionnaire.

Material and methods
The study included 100 consecutive patients admitted to palliative care between September 2018 and January 2019 being treated in a hospice and at home. A three-part survey process was used to collect data, including the following: Demographic Data Form; WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire; EQ-5D questionnaire.

Results
The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was analyzed for 4 domains. The study obtained the following results: Domain 1=40.2; Domain 2=39.94; Domain 3=36.1; Domain 4=37.7. According to the guidelines of the EQ-5D questionnaire, it was shown that 43% of patients are unable to walk or have serious problems with walking, 59% of patients are unable or have serious problems with self-care, 61% of patients are unable or have serious problems with ordinary activities, 52% of patients have severe or extreme pain/discomfort, 65% of patients are very anxious or depressed.

Conclusions
1. The study showed that patients covered by palliative care present low indicators of quality of life.
2. According to the data obtained, palliative care programs should pay special attention to the improvement of quality of life by taking an interdisciplinary approach to its resources.

Assessment of the Quality of Life Among Patients under Palliative Care

Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze

Department of Kinesiology and Health Prevention

Journal of Health Study and Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Assessment of the Quality of Life Among Patients under Palliative Care"}

Background
Palliative care is a form of medical care that focuses on providing comfort and pain relief to patients with severe, incurable diseases. The World...

Assessment of the Quality of Life Among Patients under Palliative Care

Online veröffentlicht: 05. Juli 2023

Seitenbereich: 39 - 57

Eingereicht: 28. Apr. 2023

Akzeptiert: 18. Mai 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jhsm-2023-0003

© 2023 Wojciech Michał Statowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.