Subjective quality of life of outpatients with diabetes: comparison with family caregivers' impressions and control group.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of studies on comparison of quality of life (QOL) of type-1 and type-2 diabetes patients, and the impact of family caregivers' impressions on the QOL of patients.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the subjective QOL of Sudanese diabetics using the WHOQOL-Bref, compared with a general population sample; examine caregiver-patient concordance; and assess the variables that impact on QOL.


METHODS
The responses of 105 outpatients with type-1 diabetes and 136 with type-2 diabetes were compared with their family caregivers' impressions and 139 general population subjects.


RESULTS
Patients were predominantly dissatisfied with their life circumstances. Type-1 diabetics had significantly lowest QOL scores, while the control group had highest scores. Having additional medical problems; having diminished sexual desire; and being young, unemployed and single were associated with poor QOL, but illness duration was not. Type-2 diabetics had lesser concordance with caregivers. The only predictor of patients' QOL was the caregivers' impression of patients' QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers' impression of patients' QOL impacted on outcome. Caregiver education is, therefore, important. The factors associated with QOL indicate a group that needs focused attention. The good QOL for type-2 and nonsignificance of illness duration encourage therapeutic optimism.
Awadalla
Abdel W
AW
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat, Kuwait 13110. awadal@yahoo.com
Ohaeri
Jude U
JU
Tawfiq
Adel M
AM
Al-Awadi
Shafika A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires