Validating a tool to measure quality of life among type 2 diabetics and exploring variables associated with it

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QoL) of diabetic patients is a primary outcome in the management of diabetes. However, to improve patients’ QoL, validated instruments are necessary to measure QoL, moreover, identifying variables that may influence patients QoL is the first step in improving patients’ QoL. The study aim was to develop and validate a brief tool to assess diabetic patients’ QoL and identify the factors associated with poor QoL among adult Jordanian patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: Based on literature review, a brief questionnaire (Brief Arabic Diabetes QoL (BADQoL)) was developed to evaluate patients’ OoL in the present cross-sectional study. Patients’ socio-demographics and disease status information were gathered, in addition to the participants’ beliefs about medicines and their medication adherence. Factor analysis was conducted to validate the use of BADQoL. Stepwise binary regression analysis was performed to identify the independent predictors of poor QoL. Results: A total of 287 diabetic patients were enrolled in the study. The factor analysis indicated that one factor with 14 items was the best model for BADQoL. Moderate QoL was observed among the participants as the QoL score mean was 47.17(±11.33) out of 70. Necessity score significantly increased the odds of having higher QoL (OR=9.11,p-value <0.01), while low adherence and moderate adherence (OR=0.09 and 0.13 respectively, ,p-value <0.01), uncontrolled diabetes (OR=0.19,p-value <0.01) and longer duration of diabetes significantly decreased the odds of having higher QoL (OR=0.85,p-value <0.01). Conclusion: Several factors were associated with diabetic patients’ QoL. Implementing disease management programs while taking into consideration these factors could improves diabetic patients’ QoL.