Predictors of health related quality of life among diabetic patients on follow up at Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Western Ethiopia: A cross sectional study

ObjectiveTo assess health related quality of life (HRQoL) and its predictors among diabetic patients on follow up at Nekemte Specialized Hospital (NSH) in Western Ethiopia.Design, setting and participantsThis facility based cross sectional study was conducted among 224 diabetic patients on follow up at one of the public hospitals in western Ethiopia.Main outcome measuredHRQoL was measured by using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey from 15th April to 5th June. Structured questionnaire was used for data the collection from participants selected by systematic random sampling. Multiple linear regression was used for final model.ResultA total of 215 diabetic patients were involved in the study with the response rate of 96%. The mean score of the overall HRQoL of the study participants was found to be 50.30 ± 18.08 with highest mean score in physical functioning and lowest mean score in general health domain. Age, education status, history of smoking, feeling of stigmatized and Body mass index (BMI) were inversely associated while being male, being married, absence of co morbidity and absence of chronic complications related to diabetes mellitus were found to be positively associated with overall HRQoL.ConclusionThe overall HRQoL of diabetic patients on follow up at the study area was found to be moderate. General health, mental health, bodily pain and vitality were the most affected domains. Both the mental and physical components need to be considered when caring the diabetic patients on follow up beyond provision of treatment.Strength and limitations of this studyThe study was the first of its kind in assessing the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among both diabetes mellitus type I and type II in Ethiopia.The tools used was validated across different culturesEight domains of HRQoL and two component summary scores were used to make the measurement more specific.The cross sectional nature of the study design made the result of the study difficult to identify either the cause or the effect comes first.