Effect of nursing guidelines on quality of life, and treatment satisfaction among patients with hypothyroidism

Abstract

Background Many patients with hypothyroidism still experience greater reduction in quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction when on the recommended replacement dosage. Thus, nursing guidelines could improve patients’ knowledge, QoL, and treatment satisfaction among patients with hypothyroidism. Aim To evaluate the effect of nursing guidelines on knowledge, QoL, and treatment satisfaction among patients with hypothyroidism. Design A quasi-experimental pre–posttest control group design was used. Setting The study was conducted at endocrinology outpatient clinics in one of the teaching hospitals at Cairo University. Sample A convenient sample of 60 adult male and female patients diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism on a stable dose of levothyroxine was included. Tools Four tools were used to collect data pertinent to the study: (a) personal data form. It consists of two parts: (i) demographic data, including age, sex, education level, and place of residence, and (ii) medical data related to comorbid diseases and BMI; (b) Patients’ Hypothyroidism Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire; (c) Thyroid Patient-reported Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (ThyPRO39); and (d) Hypothyroid Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (ThyTSQ). Results There were no statistically significant differences between the study and control groups before application of nursing guidelines regarding demographic and medical variables as well as the total mean scores of patients’ knowledge about hypothyroidism, QoL, and treatment satisfaction. However, highly statistically significant differences were found between both groups at 1 and 2 months after implementation of nursing guidelines concerning patients’ knowledge about hypothyroidism, QoL, and treatment satisfaction (P=0.000 and 0.000, respectively). Conclusion Nursing guidelines could improve patients’ knowledge and QoL among patients with hypothyroidism by taking these nursing guidelines fully into account alongside the recommended treatment where nursing guidelines cover all suspected hypothyroid disease and thereby to improve knowledge, QoL, and treatment satisfaction. Recommendations: this study recommends that nurses provide verbal and written nursing guidelines for patients with hypothyroidism in both inpatient and outpatient clinics.