Health-Related Perceptions of Older Adults/Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Diseases (ODLs) are associated with their Quality of Life: a Mixed-Methods Study

Yuhui Ruan; Weisin Chen; Chenyang Zhuang; Hong Lin

doi:10.2147/PPA.S328532

Health-Related Perceptions of Older Adults/Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Diseases (ODLs) are associated with their Quality of Life: a Mixed-Methods Study

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2021 Oct 8:15:2303-2311. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S328532. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Yuhui Ruan¹, Weisin Chen², Chenyang Zhuang², Hong Lin^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
³ Institute of Medical Science Popularization, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the quality of life of older adults/patients with degenerative lumbar diseases (ODLs) and analyse its association with some of their health-related perceptions.

Materials and methods: This mixed-methods study consisted of a questionnaire survey and an in-depth interview, which was designed within this study. ODLs were recruited from January 12, 2017 to June 27, 2018. The independent sample t-test and grounded theory coding method were employed for data analysis.

Results: Of the 125 participants who returned valid questionnaires, 18 were included in the in-depth interviews. ODLs' quality of life was associated with the following health-related perceptions: "life barriers", "subjective health status", and "treatment outcomes" across the domains of physiology, psychology, social relations, and environment.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ODLs' quality of life is associated with their health-related perceptions. Thus, to improve older adults' quality of life, more attention should be paid to enhancing non-medical factors such as their health-related perceptions.

Keywords: life barriers; subjective health status; treatment outcomes.

Grants and funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.