title: Quality of life of elderly patients after treatment in the ICU.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment on quality of life (QOL) outcomes for critically ill elderly patients 4-6 months after ICU discharge. A mean overall score of 21.4 (SD=6.3) was obtained with the Quality of Life Index (Ferrans & Powers, 1985), indicating that all the ICU survivors in the sample (N=164) reported good QOL and were satisfied with areas of life that were important to them. Greater social support, better perceived health status, fewer days of hospitalization, and a hospital readmission since discharge were associated with higher QOL (R2=.51). This sample of elderly ICU survivors maintained a good QOL after their critical illness regardless of age.
authors.affiliation: Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL 60612-3832, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kleinpell
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ferrans
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires