ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We investigated quality of life (QOL) in American Indian women with different chronic diseases. METHOD: Sixty American Indian women with diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or both DM and RA (DM + RA), and healthy control women received evaluations of joint motion, hand strength dexterity, pain, activity and participation limitations and QOL. RESULTS: The DM + RA and RA groups had significantly more pain, less joint motion, decreased hand strength, and more activity limitations. Participation was similar for all groups except the DM + RA group. Past and present QOL were similar; however, the DM + RA group reported significantly decreased future QOL. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the presence of more than one chronic disease affects activity and participation. Factors that related to QOL were different for each disease group, with the exception of pain. Identification of factors related to QOL can help occupational therapists identify areas for intervention.
Subject(s)
Arthritis/psychology , Attitude to Health , Diabetes Mellitus/psychology , Indians, North American/psychology , Quality of Life , Adult , Arthritis/ethnology , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/ethnology , Disability Evaluation , Female , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life (QOL) in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 64 women in four groups: American Indians with rheumatoid arthritis, healthy American Indians, Whites with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy Whites. Participants received evaluations of pain, joint motion, hand function, daily task performance, community participation, and QOL. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in QOL between the participants with rheumatoid arthritis and the healthy control groups but not between the American Indian and White groups. Current health and emotional-social function related to QOL in all groups. Dexterity also correlated with QOL in the two groups with rheumatoid arthritis. Performance of daily activities correlated with 0OL in all groups except the healthy White groups. Community participation did not correlate with COL. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis in American Indian and White women does affect COL and that QOL does not seem to be influenced by ethnicity. Factors that related to QOL also were similar for both groups with rheumatoid arthritis.
