Factors Influencing Subjective QOL Among Community-Dwelling People with SMI Receiving Home-Visit Occupational Therapy

Abstract

IntroductionImproving the subjective quality of life (QOL) of people with severemental illness (SMI) is the main objective of psychiatric occupational therapy (OT). For people with SMI to perform desired daily activities, a newly designed home-visit OT has been implemented in Japan. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of subjective QOL in people with SMI receiving home-visit OT.MethodTwenty-five people with SMI (average age: 46.7 years) were recruited from 20 multidisciplinary outreach teams in Japan. They were diagnosed with either F2 (i.e., schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders) or F3 (i.e., mood [affective] disorders) using ICD-10. To create a predictive model of subjective QOL, we performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) total score as a response variable. The following independent variables were analyzed: demographic and clinical data, subjective evaluation of the scores of performance of and satisfaction with daily activity rated on a 10-point Likert scale, the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) total and subscale scores, and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale score.ResultsPredictors of subjective QOL were satisfaction in daily activity (adjusted β = 0.584) and social engagement of the SFS subscale (adjusted β = 0.405). The contribution rate of the model was 53.4%.ConclusionSatisfaction in daily activity and social engagement may contribute to individuals’ subjective QOL. To improve the subjective QOL of people with SMI, their satisfaction with daily activity and social participation should be promoted through meaningful daily activities.