[A study on physical symptom, activity of daily living, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the community-dwelling older adults].
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify the relationships among physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults.


METHODS
A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from May 10 to August 17, 2007. Physical symptoms were measured using the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ), activities of daily living using the Late-Life Functional and Disability Instrument (LLFDI), and HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 242 community-dwelling elderly Korean people.


RESULTS
The HRQoL correlates with the physical symptoms (r=-.31) and the function component (r=.59). Of the two disability parts of the LLFDI, the limitation dimension correlates higher (r=.57) with HRQoL than the frequency dimension (r=.42). The HRQoL is significantly associated with the function component, and disability limitation in capability which explained 44.4% of variance in physical health.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may contribute to a better understanding of physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and HRQoL in community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, health programs for prompting older adult's health should be planned based on results of the study.
Shin
Kyung Rim
KR
College of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. krshin@ewha.ac.kr
Byeon
Young Soon
YS
Kang
Younhee
Y
Oak
Jiwon
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires