Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-sectional Study Comparing Patients on Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis and with Kidney Transplantation.

Aims: The methods of renal replacement therapy influence highly the quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic kidney disease. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the QOL in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and kidney transplantation (KT). Methodology: The sample consisted of 186 patients attending Nicosia General Hospital in 2012, 118 HD patients, 23 PD patients and 45 KT patients. QOL was assessed by the Greek Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF 36). Results: Patients on HD had worse scores in all components. All three patient groups showed highest scores in mental health (HD: 57.7; PD: 70.3; KT: 75.6), whereas the lowest scores were observed in the component role physical (HD 33.1; PD 54.4 and KT 56.7) and general health (HD 32.5; PD 44.1 and KT 60.4). KT patients achieved highest scores in the physical component summary and mental component summary, as well as in the component summary of renal disease, followed by peritoneal dialysis patients. Male gender was significantly associated with higher score. Conclusion: The study demonstrate that among the three groups the patients on hemodialysis had the worst scores, whereas the best scores are seen in KT patients. Lower scores are reported in the physical health component and here especially in the general health. Physicians as well as nursing personnel should be aware of the effects of dialysis and could improve both physical and mental health implementing empowerment programs in departments of HD and PD, to support patients in managing their health-related conditions.

Work Ability Index: Validation of the Greek Version and Descriptive Data in Heavy Industry Employees.

Aims: Validation of the Greek version of Work Ability Index (WAI). Study Design: A cross sectional survey of 943 workers from a shipyard industry. Place and Duration of Study: University of Patras, Medical School, Public Health Department, HSY occupational health department, Greece in 2006-07. Methodology: The translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire was performed according to the international standards. The following aspects of the questionnaire were evaluated: construct validity, using factorial analysis, and discriminant capacity, by comparing Work Ability Index scores across variables likely to be related with work ability, like absenteeism; criterion validity, by determining the correlation between self-reported health and Work Ability Index score; and reliability, using Kendall’s tau b coefficient to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Results: A two-dimensional structure model, interpreted as “subjectively estimated work ability” and “ill-health related ability” of the instrument fits better our study population with some of the subscales load on both dimensions. Good discriminating properties of the tool with sickness absence, education level and high criterion validity using dimensions of health status, were evident. High inter-item Kendall’s tau b coefficients were indicative of satisfactory reliability. Conclusions: The Greek version of the WAI showed satisfactory psychometric properties thus constituting an appropriate option for evaluating work ability in both individual and population-based settings.