Evaluation of the association between social determinants and health-related quality of life among diabetic patients attending an outpatient clinic in the Warangal region, Telangana, India

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among diabetic patients attending a clinic situated in the Warangal region of Telangana, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 8 months in the diabetes outpatients’ clinic in the Warangal region, Telangana, India. A total of 402 patients were included in that study. The patients were assessed for QoL using the HRQoL-8-dimensional scale, which covers mainly Role Restriction Due to Physical Illness (6 items), Strength and Stamina (6 items), Health in General (3 items), Satisfaction with the Treatment (4 items), Symptoms Botherless (3 items), Financial Worries (3 items), Mental Health (5-items), and Satisfaction with Diet (2 items). All the items were assessed on a five-point Likert scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.39 ± 11.01 (mean±SD). There was a statistically significant association between education and physical health (P=0.015), treatment satisfaction (P=0.006), emotional health (P=0.038), and diet satisfaction domain of HRQoL (P=0.006). The type of medication is associated with treatment satisfaction, financial worry, emotional health, and diet satisfaction (P=0.001). The patient’s employment status is significantly different from the general health, financial, and emotional health of HRQoL (P=0.001). However, treatment satisfaction (P=0.044) alone was significantly associated with years of having diabetes. Conclusion: Adhering to treatment guidelines and provider recommendations helps patients to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus
• emotional health
• quality of life
• social factors
• therapy factors