The factors affecting the perception of elderly patients towards health, quality of life and health-related quality of life

Abstract

Background: The population prevalence of older people has been growing worldwide. Accordingly quality of life among older people is a significant public health concern. The aim of this study is to identify the factors affecting the perception of elderly patients (aged 60 years and older) who referred to Samsun, İlyasköy Family Health Center towards health, quality of life and health-related quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 01 August 2010 and 01 September 2010. The study population includes male and female elders (aged 60 years and older) who referred to Family Health Center. The study sample consists of a total of 215 elderly patients. Data were collected using a Questionnaire, “World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adult Module (WHOQOL-OLD) and the only question with self-rated health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student t test and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. Results: Intimacy (14.35 ± 2.95) and death (10.76 ± 4.30) were found to be the highest and the lowest mean scores obtained from quality of life scale, respectively. The average total score of quality of life scale was 75.74 ± 9.99 whereas perception of health was 2.20. Elders’ age, family type and chronic diseases did not affect quality of life (p> 0.05), but the health perception (p <0.05). It was observed that participants consider elderliness as a disturbance (disorder) and participants’ age, chronic diseases does not affect quality of life but the perception of health. Results also showed that those who perceive their health as good have higher quality of life. Conclusions: Services should be planned by considering the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention principles to improve the quality of life in elderly people and further studies in this direction should be done. © GATA.