ABSTRACT
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To identify physiological, psychological and socioenvironmental factors that affect the health-related quality of life of Thai men living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The vast majority of Thai persons living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are men. BACKGROUND: Little is known about the health-related quality of life of Thai people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or about the physiological and psychosocial factors that most affect it. Applying a prevailing theoretical model of health-related quality of life, we explored how physiological, psychological and socioenvironmental factors simultaneously affect the health-related quality of life of Thai men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design was used, together with the STROBE checklist. METHODS: In this study, 290 Thai male outpatients at a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease specialist clinic near Bangkok were recruited using purposive sampling. The participants completed the Satisfaction With Life Scale, the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Short Form Health Survey Version 2, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Self-Efficacy Scale and the Social Support Questionnaire. A structural equation model was used to examine the relationships between the assessed variables. RESULTS: Biological function (FEV-1, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations), symptoms (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression), functional status, general health perceptions and individual characteristics (age and self-efficacy to control dyspnoea) accounted for 56.9% of the variance in health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression were the main factors with statistically significant direct and indirect effects on the health-related quality of life of the Thai men in this study. The effects of both symptoms included an indirect effect on health-related quality of life through functional status and general health perceptions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The study findings may help nurses to better understand factors affecting health-related quality of life among men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Preventing or minimising symptom exacerbations could be important in nursing practice. Cognitive-behavioural interventions addressing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptom management, depression screening and smoking cessation may improve health-related quality of life among Thai men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Subject(s)
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology , Quality of Life , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/complications , Depression/psychology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Theoretical , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Surveys and Questionnaires , ThailandABSTRACT
Long-stay refers to a long visit abroad by retired middle-aged and older people. This study describes the attitudes/opinions of elderly Japanese long-staying subjects and healthcare providers in Thailand. Two cross-sectional questionnaire surveys were conducted in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Questionnaires were sent to a sample recruited from a self-help group of Japanese elders in Thailand (n = 68) and to Thai healthcare providers (n = 101). About half of the Japanese subjects routinely used a Thai medical service, although only 15% had been admitted to the hospital. Half of the Japanese subjects thought the quality of Thai medical services was high. Many elderly Japanese subjects were unable to speak either English or Thai, leading to communication difficulties. About 80% of healthcare professionals found no difference between caring for elderly Japanese subjects and people from Thailand. Most healthcare providers agreed that Japanese language training should be available to medical staff as translators were not always available. Healthcare providers agreed with the Thai government policy promoting long-stays. The most recognized obstacle in caring for Japanese long-stay elderly was the language barrier. More research on Japanese elders staying abroad is needed to promote effective communication between Japanese elderly and other ethnic healthcare professionals.
