Authors

Amparo Bonet Ros

Position

Máster en Cuidados Especializados de Enfermería de Urgencias, Áreas de Pacientes Críticos y Postanestesia (Universidad de Valencia). Enfermera. Centro de Salud de Sagunto. Valencia

Contact address

Amparo Bonet Ros. Avda. Doctor Palos, 5B-4º, 7ª. 46500 Sagunto (Valencia).

Contact email: amparbonet@gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with life (SwL) in patients with organic and psychiatric conditions. To compare patient perceptions with those by physicians.
Method: a descriptive transversal study in patients with organic and psychiatric conditions, with ages between 40 and 60 years. The study participants had to complete the SF-36 Health Questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Life Scale by Diener et al., and perception of quality of life and satisfaction with life were measured with visual numeric scales, which were also completed by those physicians managing the patients. Mann-Whitney’s U Test was conducted in order to analyze the differences between patients in both groups, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to find the level of agreement between health perceived by the patients and the perception of their managing physicians.
Results: the study included 79 patients, 61% women and 39% men, with 50 years as mean age for patients with psychiatric conditions, and 57 years for those with chronic conditions. The QoL assessment of patients included in the study was lower than the one for the Spanish population of reference. Psychiatric patients were placed in a more unfavourable position vs. those with organic conditions, in the following dimensions: overall health, vitality, social performance, mental health, and emotional role (p≤ 0.05). There was a statistical differentiation for SwL between both groups. The ICC obtained was <0.70 in organic patients and <0.50 in patients with psychiatric conditions.
Conclusions: organic and mental conditions cause a negative impact on QoL and SwL; patients with organic conditions present better levels. There is a moderate-low agreement between QoL and SwL assessments conducted by physicians and their patients.

Keywords:

Somatic disease; psychiatric disease; quality of life; Satisfaction with Life Scale; questionnaires

Versión en Español

Título:

Calidad de vida y satisfacción con la vida en pacientes con patología orgánica y psiquiátrica