Quality of Life (Visual Aspect) in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients after Laser Photocoagulation

Abstract

Background and objective : Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease resulting in many public health problems in Thailand. The most common complication is diabetic retinopathy that causes lost of vision and blindness if not arrested. The purpose of this descriptive study was to measure the quality of life (visual aspect) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients after laser photocoagulation and related quality of life at the laser clinic Out – Patients department in Srinakarind Hospital , faculty of medicine Khon Kaen University  during October 2010 to October 2011

Methods : Fifty subjects were included in the study by a purposive sampling method. Research instrument included demographic data form and the modified quality of life (QOL) questionnaires developed. The quality of life reliability established with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.95. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistic to obtain frequencies, percentages, mean, the pre-laser quality of life scores were compared with the post laser (12 weeks) quality of life scores using pair t test, the relation between demographic data and the post laser (12 weeks) quality of life scores were analyzed by independent  T test and One-Way ANOVA.

Result : The majority of the subjects have the total score of quality of life in moderate level. Quality of life score about the using sight near and distance, emotions, the social participation and functioning after the 12 weeks laser  were significantly higher than the score before laser score (p < 0.05). The factors related with the quality of life were the using sight after 12 weeks laser, monthly income, family relationship were statistically significant (p < 0.05)

Conclusion : The  quality of life scores reported by the majority of subjects were in the moderate range. Both near and far sightedness as well as social participation and functioning were ranked higher after laser photocoagulation.

Keywords : Quality of life, Proliferative diabetic retionpathy