title: Quality of life of Turkish type 2 diabetics in Germany and Turkey--a comparison between Hamburg and Istanbul.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The analyses address the following research questions: (1) Do Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey differ in terms of quality of life? (2) If yes, can these differences (in part) be explained by social factors (age, gender, education, household size), functional limitations and availability of support? (3) Are social factors, functional limitations and availability of support differently associated with quality of life among Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey?
  
  
  METHODS
  For this comparative cross-sectional study, 111 patients with type 2 diabetes were personally interviewed in Istanbul (Turkey) and 294 Turkish patients in Hamburg (Germany). For quality of life measurement we have used the Turkish version of the WHOQOL-Bref-26. Sociodemographics included age, sex, education and household-size. Health related functional limitations were assessed on the basis of an index of (instrumental) activities of daily living including the availability of help. Statistical analyses were conducted on group comparisons with Chi-square- and T-tests as well as linear regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are no significant differences between Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey in the physical and the psychological dimensions of the WHOQOL-Bref. However, in the WHOQOL-domains 'social QoL' and 'environmental QoL' Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg have a significantly better quality of life than their counterparts in Istanbul. These differences cannot be explained by individual sociodemographic factors, functional limitations and availability of support. Furthermore, we found much stronger positive associations between education and quality of life in Istanbul than in Hamburg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beyond strong similarities between the two samples in sociodemographics, physical and mental health the social and environmental quality of life was significantly assessed better by the Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg. This is most likely an effect of public investment in social security, infrastructure and health care which is also influencing the decision as to where to spend life in retirement.
authors: a Department of Medical Sociology , University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Kofahl
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Doğan
authors: Gülsün
authors: G
authors: Doğan
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Mnich
authors: Olaf
authors: O
authors: von dem Knesebeck
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Germany; IADL; SES; Turkey; WHOQOL; cross-sectional comparative study; diabetes; education; environment; functional limitations; migrants; quality of life; social support