title: Health-related quality of life and its predictors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited studies have examined the predictors of HRQoL among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This study helped to ascertain the predictors of HRQoL from the pool of influencing factors identified by previous studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a descriptive correlational design, this study explored the relationship between HRQoL and pain, functional disability, anxiety, depression, medication adherence and social support. Eligible outpatients (n=108) were recruited via their attending doctors who were co-investigators of this study. Informed consent forms were distributed and questionnaires administered in a teaching hub by the main researcher.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant correlations were found between HRQoL and all of the study variables. Pain, functional disability and depression were main predictors of HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future evidence-based interventions focusing on pain relief, delaying disability or improving functional ability and reducing depressive symptoms are required to enhance the HRQoL of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, National University Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: nevakee97@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Su Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: nurhhg@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Hong-Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, National University Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: anselm_mak@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, National University Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: manjari_lahiri@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Manjari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.affiliation: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: ephln@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, National University Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: peter_cheung@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: nurww@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Wenru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health-related quality of life; Pain; Predictors; Rheumatoid arthritis