Quality of life in people with epilepsy and their family caregivers. An Arab experience using the short version of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument

Authors

• Jude U. Ohaeri, Department of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Gamal Abdel Naser Road, PO Box 4081,afat 13041, Kuwait. Tel/Fax. +965 (24) 899315. E-mail: judeohaeri{at}hotmail.com
• Abdel W. Awadalla, Department of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Gamal Abdel Naser Road, PO Box 4081,afat 13041, Kuwait. Tel/Fax. +965 (24) 899315. E-mail: judeohaeri{at}hotmail.com
• Ali A. Farah, Department of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Gamal Abdel Naser Road, PO Box 4081,afat 13041, Kuwait. Tel/Fax. +965 (24) 899315. E-mail: judeohaeri{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the subjective quality of life (QOL) of Sudanese epilepsy patients with generalized tonic clonic seizures and their family caregivers, compared with the general population, and previous Sudanese data for chronic conditions, and to examine the predictors of QOL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization9s 26-item QOL instrument, was carried out from December 2005 to December 2006, on consecutive government hospital Neurology Clinic attendees and their family caregivers, who fulfilled the study9s inclusion criteria, in the cities of Khartoum, Wad Medani, and Atbara, Sudan. RESULTS: There were 276 patients (56.5% male; mean age 29.5 years). Patients9 QOL scores were significantly lower (physical health domain [57.1%], psychological [60.1%], social relations [58.4%], environment [50.6%], and general facet [60.8%]), than the control group. They scored lower than the WHO 23-country patients for social relations and environment domains, and had lower environment domain scores than Sudanese diabetes patients. Caregivers had significantly higher scores (57.4 -73.7%) than patients and control group. Patients9 higher QOL was associated with marriage, education, employment, no side effects and caregiver occupation. Caregivers had lower QOL if they were female, patients9 own children, and less educated. The predictors of QOL included caregiver9s proxy rating of the patient9s QOL and drug side effects. CONCLUSION: Poor QOL in epilepsy reflects social underachievement, and calls for programs to remedy their psychosocial circumstance, and improve service provisions. Vulnerable caregivers need to be identified for assistance, to enhance their role. Poor QOL in epilepsy reflects social underachievement, and calls for programs to remedy their psychosocial circumstance, and improve service provisions. Vulnerable caregivers need to be identified for assistance, to enhance their role.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

1328

Last Page

1335

Recommended Citation

Ohaeri, Jude U.; Awadalla, Abdel W.; and Farah, Ali A. (2009) "Quality of life in people with epilepsy and their family caregivers. An Arab experience using the short version of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 30: Iss. 10, Article 15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.4857