Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purposes of this study are to analyze the factors that influence selfmanagement and health-related QOL, and to provide useful informations to improve the QOL in adolescent and adult diabetic patients. METHODS: For this study, we interviewed 126 adolescent and adult diabetic patients who visited the Yonsei University Wonju Christian Hospital from March 4th, 2004 to April 5th, 2004. RESULTS: We examined the relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics and the health-related quality of life(QOL). There were statistically significant relationships between the QOL-and employment, years of education, income level and marriage status, but not between the health-related QOL and age and gender. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant relationships between the health-related QOL and smoking or drinking, nor between type 1 and 2 diabetic patients. The health-related QOL was significantly higher for an increased diabetes duration and for a greater number of symptoms, but the QOL was significantly lower in the presence of complications and hospital admission. The health-related QOL was lower when the preprandial blood glucose levels and HbA1c concentrations were higher, but it was higher when the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were higher. Regarding the treatment methods, the health-related QOL was significantly lower for those patients who took insulin injection. The QOL was higher when the general self-management and diet therapy were well-controlled. Meanwhile, those subjects who had obtained medical informations from doctors, the media(including the internet and TV) and nurses in that order, they selected diet therapy as the hardest factor in the management of their diabetes. CONCLUSION: Adolescent and adult diabetic patients need continuous education and assistance to improve their health-related QOL and to keep from developing complications

• Keywords: Quality of life;Adolescent and adulthood;Self-management;