Factors Determining the Assessment of Quality of Life Made by Patients Who Have Had a Stroke

Abstract

Introduction. Increasingly, studies relating to the consequences of chronic neurological diseases depart from the principle of exclusively biological evaluation of human health and a more holistic point of view is adopted, in which particural attention is drawn to the emotional experience of patients, their well-being and ability to function in daily life.
Aim. This work aims at analysing the factors determining the assessment of the quality of life made by patients who have had a stroke.
Materials and Methods. The study group consisted of 95 post-stroke patients. The research was carried out by means of: Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index — version III, evaluating the overall quality of life and the quality of life in terms of health and functional, socio-economic, psycho-spiritual as well as family aspects. The study also included the Acceptance of Ilness Scale (AIS) and Functional Indicator “Repty”.
Results. The studies showed significant (p=0.006) differences in the level of acceptance of the disease by respondents with different degrees of functional capacity. As a necessary condition for fulfillment in life, 91.6% of respondents indicated the possibility of work continuing. For 84.20% of respondents good relationships with children were necessary for their fulfilment in life. 80% of the study population included health as an element of basic welfare. For 78.90% of respondents hapiness of their families was necessary to achieve their own happiness, and approximately three-quarters of respondents considered religious practices to be very important for their self-fulfilment (75.80%), health of immediate family (75.80%) and getting rid of chronic pain (74.70%).
Conclusions. 1) The ability to function independently favours the acceptance of the consequences of stroke. 2) The biggest problem with adjusting to the new reality of living with the disease referred to those respondents who were independent but in some activities had to rely on the assistance from others. 3) More than ninety per cent of respondents as a prerequisite for fulfillment in life pointed to the possibility to continue working. 4) The quality of life perceived is drastically reduced in patients who had a stroke within the period ranging from three months to a year before participation in the study. 5) The reduced sense of well-being of the respondents was mostly affected by the negative impact of the growing problems in performing basic activities of daily life, particularly in terms of health and functioning. 6) The functional capacity limited after the stroke and the problems with the acceptance of the disease do not disturb, according to patients’ assessment, family relationships. (JNNN 2016;5(4):136–143)