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Quality of life in patients with COPD
KLÍMOVÁ, Pavlína
Theoretical foundation Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranks among the most serious diseases in the population. The COPD prevalence is assumed at up to 7,7%. As the name shows, it is a chronic disease characteristic with typical symptoms including particularly cough, expectoration and noticeable dyspnoea. The symptoms may get worse above their common level in the course of the disease, which we call exacerbation. The presence of unpleasant breathing problems affects different life areas, restricting the individual when performing everyday activities. The patient's psyche is affected as well, including potential incidence of anxieties or depressions. Finally, the patient's subjectively perceived quality of life is significantly worsened. Goal of the thesis The goal of this thesis is to ascertain the areas in which COPD affects the quality of life. Hypotheses H1: COPD patients feel breathing problems. H2: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of common daily activities. H3: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of physical activity. H4: COPD patients feel restrictions in social sphere. H5: COPD patients experience negative feelings. H6: COPD patients perceive their quality of life as bad. Methodology The research investigation was implemented based on quantitative inquiry within the grant Project No. 120/2012/S "Reflection of life quality in nursing". The data collection was performed under use of quantitative method; the research investigation took place with the help of questionnaire technology. Two questionnaires were used: St. George's Respiratory Questionare Czech (SGRQ) and WHOQOL 100 generic standardized questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to persons with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The selection set was made up through quota selection that was observed. The quotas consisted in COPD diagnosis and the respondents' gender. The proportion of men and women was specified at 500 persons, 294 men and 206 women from that number. The research set consisted of 296 men and 207 women, i.e. 503 respondents in total. The investigation took place through addressing general practitioners, specialized outpatients' departments and chest disease wards. Results The results were processed with the help of the SASD program (statistic analysis of social data). The results can be divided into three groups. The first group includes the results characterizing the structure of the research set; the second group includes the graphically represented results, and the third group includes the results processed with the help of descriptive statistics. The last two groups include results from both questionnaires used. The results allowed us obtaining information on perception of breathing problems by the patients, on the sphere of common daily activities, on problems in the sphere of movement, on social sphere, on experiencing of negative feelings and on subjective perception of quality of life. Based on the results, the hypotheses were evaluated as follows: H1: COPD patients feel breathing problems confirmed, H2: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of common daily activities - confirmed, H3: COPD patients feel restrictions in the sphere of physical activity not confirmed, H4: COPD patients feel restrictions in social sphere - not confirmed, H5: COPD patients experience negative feelings confirmed, and H6: COPD patients perceive their quality of life as bad - not confirmed. Conclusion The thesis provides comprehensive view of the spheres affecting the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It may be used not only for nurses but also for the whole multidisciplinary team caring for the patient. The thesis may be used also as study material for nursing students. The results of the research investigation will be further presented at conferences and published in professional journals.
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Quality of life of patients with peripheral arterial disease
HRADOVÁ, Helena
Theoretical foundation Arterial disease which gradually leads to narrowing of artery, up to complete vascular closure and to subsequent manifestation of ischaemia is called ischaemic disease of the lower extremities (IDLE). We need to understand ischaemic disease of the lower extremities not only as a disease causing patients a range of difficulties and significantly impacting their life quality, but also as a very important indicator of overall cardiovascular condition of whole organism. Ischaemic disease of the lower extremities becomes more and more accepted as a chronic disease associated with a substantial cardiovascular risk. This disease causes primarily walking limitation by which it impacts daily activities and significantly decrease the life quality. Goal of the thesis: A goal was set for the thesis: Finding out in which areas the ischaemic disease of the lower extremities impacts the life quality. Hypotheses: 6 hypotheses were set for the thesis: H1: Patients with IDLE feel pain H2: Patients with IDLE are limited in moving H3: Patients with IDLE are limited socially H4: Patients with IDLE feel concern for their future H5: Patients with IDLE perceive their life quality as a low one. H6: Patients with IDLE are limited in the area of basic daily activities. Methodology: The research part of the thesis was implemented based on quantitative inquiry within the grant Project No. 120/2012/S ?Reflection of life quality in nursing?. For the empirical part of the thesis the quantitative method was used, the survey was carried out in form of questionnaires, more precisely a standardized questionnaire EQ-5D-5L, selected questions from a questionnaire WHOQOL 100 and specific non-standardized complementary questions for patients with ischaemic disease of the lower extremities. The survey was carried out by addressing practising physicians , doctors from specialized outpatient departments and inpatient wards. Nurses who were, along with the doctors, responsible for explaining the significance of the survey to the patients were an integral part to the data gathering process. The respondents were selected intentionally, the basic factor of selection was presence of the ischaemic disease of the lower extremities. The selection sample was designed using selective quota, the only quota being the age of respondent. Results: All results obtained were statistically processed in the SASD (Statistical Analysis of Social Data) software. The results were divided into three areas. Firstly results describing the structure of selection sample, secondly results depicted graphically and thirdly results processed using a descriptive statistics. The last two areas were then arranged according to the used questionnaire. The results provided us with information regarding patients' perceiving of pain, the difficulties in moving, the social area, the basic daily activities, the concerns for the future and subjective perceiving ot the life quality. Based on the results, the set hypotheses were evaluated as follows: H1: Patients with IDLE feel pain ? confirmed, H2: Patients with IDLE are limited in moving - confirmed, H3: Patients with IDLE are limited socially - confirmed, H4: Patients with IDLE feel concern for their future - confirmed, H5: Patients with IDLE perceive their life quality as a low one ? not confirmed, H6: Patients with IDLE are limited in the area of basic daily activities - confirmed. Conclusion: The thesis provides a comprehensive view on the areas impacting the life quality of patients with ischaemic disease of the lower extremities. In practice the results can facilitate the choice of effective intervention and improve communication with patients, especially due to the gained knowledge. The results will be published in journals and presented at conferences. The results could also be used as a foundation for another survey and as a studying material for students of nursing.
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