Selected Aspects of the Quality of Life of Patients After Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Introduction. Ischemic stroke is the main cause of disability, it worsens the quality of life of patients and often leads to death.
Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients after ischemic stroke, as well as to identify the factors that determine it.
Material and Methods. The study included 53 patients within the period ranging from 6 to 12 months after the first occurrence of ischemic stroke and meeting the inclusion criteria for the study. The quality of life was examined by author questionnaire survey, based on the Barthel Scale, WHOQOL-BREF Scale and the Polish adaptation of the Stroke-Specific Scale Quality of Life (Polish: SJŻUM). The questionnaire consists of 12 subscales, being the components of three the main areas: physical, psychological and socio-environmental.
Results. The quality of life after ischemic brain stroke deteriorates. In the physical sphere the biggest restrictions apply to upper limb functioning (with the average M=3.77) and self-service (with the average M=3.83), in the psychological field they refer to emotions (the average M=3.93), and in the socio-environmental sphere to the social role (with the average M=2.79). The average of the results obtained in each of those fields shows that the best results were obtained in the field of psychology.
Conclusions. The variables that determine the quality of life include: age, the level of education, marital status, the side of brain damage, economic status, the level of knowledge. (JNNN 2016;5(2):69–75)