title: Quality of life and its domains in leprosy patients after neurolysis: a study using WHOQOL-BREF.
abstract: Surgical nerve decompression in leprosy is indicated to prevent or treat nerve damage, and to improve sensory motor function and quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to describe QoL of leprosy patients after surgical nerve decompression. Participants who underwent neurolysis in the last 5 years were recruited. The assessment consisted of collecting demographic and clinical information, QoL and its domain scores. Descriptive statistical analysis of demographic and clinical data was presented. Included 33 patients (43 +/- 11.0 years) who had neurolysis with a total of 61 nerves operated. The results of WHOQOL-bref showed that overall QoL mean was 11.2 (+/- 3.63) and domains scored as follow: physical (11.0 +/- 3.56), environment (11.47 +/- 2.11), psychological (13.29 +/- 2.79) and social relations (15.03 +/- 3.66). Measures of QoL should become part of the standard battery of tools used to assess health and well-being and it may contribute to identifying patients' needs in rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Programa de Pós Graduação em Clínica Médica UFRJ, Brasil. felipe.reis@ifrj.edu.br
authors.forename: Felipe J J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Antonio José Ledo A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Artur Padão
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gosling
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Maria Katia
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires