Factors Influencing the Quality of Life of Stroke Patients Attending Tema General Hospital

Abstract

Stroke remains the leading cause of serious, long-term neurologic impairment and functional disability. Stroke affects the quality of life of its survivors. This study seeks to determine factors influencing the quality of life of stroke patients in order to promote maximal health related quality of life (HRQOL) improvements in these patients. The objective of the study is to determine the factors influencing the quality of life of stroke patients attending Tema General Hospital This is a facility-based cross-sectional study using a quantitative (SS-QOL) method to determine factors that influences the quality of life of stroke patients attending the Tema General Hospital. The study population was all stroke patients accessing healthcare at the TGH. Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement (SRSWOR) technique was employed to select 135 stroke patients. Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL) questionnaire (Appendix 2) was used. Descriptive analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. A confidence interval of 95% was used to show significant relations between the dependent and the independent variable Language (2.77 (SD 0.98)), Mood (2.58 (SD 0.73)) and Personality (2.79 (SD 0.86)) and self-care, thinking and vision were related to quality of life of stroke patients. Educational status influences the quality of life of stroke patients (p=0.0431). There was no significant association between behavioral characteristics and quality of life of stroke patients (p>0.05) QOL domains such as language, mood, personality and self-care, thinking and vision were significant domains that influenced the quality of life of stroke patients attending TGH. Educational status of patients significantly predicts QoL.