Abstract
The health care sector has shown increased interest in humanistic outcomes of therapy. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) evaluation among patients receiving treatment for chronic diseases is now widely applied. Hence, the effect of education on the HRQOL of hypertensive patients was evaluated in two tertiary health facilities; FMC, Yenagoa and NDUTH, Okolobiri in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Trained Pharmacist interviewed willing hypertensive patients between 21-80 years of age at the cardiology clinics of the health facilities using the MINICHAL questionnaire which is specific for hypertension. A convenient sampling technique was adopted. Demographic characteristics were also obtained. The responses (425) were analyzed and observed. To evaluate the effect of drugs and educational intervention, an interactive health talks on hypertension was held at their cardiology clinic weekly for six weeks. Two months later the questionnaire was re-administered. The responses post intervention (297) was analyzed. The results were then compared. The MINICHAL rates HRQOL as best=0 to worst=51. HRQOL score of 12.96 to 8.00 in FMC Yenagoa and 8.70 to 8.55 in NDUTH Okolobiri, pre and post intervention respectively was observed. Though not significant (P=0.3998), the study revealed that educational intervention brought about a positive trend in demographic characteristics. Age, marriage and education were indicated as strong indicators of HRQOL. Educational intervention on hypertension improves patient’s HRQOL. Patients’ education and counseling should be a continuous tool in patient management.
Highlights
Quality of life of a person can be assessed subjectively and objectively by the economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes and of physical, material, social, and emotional indicators after a course of a particular treatment [1]
Health related quality of life is that aspect of quality of life that relates to the functional effect of the presence of a disease and of it’ therapy on a person
Health related quality of life (HRQOL) or its values and utilities can be assessed by the QALY which is a measure of health on a scale from zero (0) as being dead and one (1) as the best
Summary
Quality of life of a person can be assessed subjectively and objectively by the economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes and of physical, material, social, and emotional indicators after a course of a particular treatment [1]. How well a person function (carry out some pre-defined activities or functions in their life) and his or her perceived wellbeing (individual’s subjective feelings) in physical, mental, and social domains of healthcare direct functions of the disease state involved [2, 3]. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) or its values and utilities can be assessed by the QALY which is a measure of health on a scale from zero (0) as being dead and one (1) as the best. The management requirements include those of chemotherapy and lifestyle changes, but adherence to the above have been found to be low, and a consequent reported poor quality of health [8-12].
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