Quality of Life of Chronic Disease Patients during the COVID-19 Situation in a Sub-district, Warinchamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

According to the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with chronic diseases are likely to have more severe effects than normal people. It has caused health problems which affect the quality of life of patients. This survey research aimed to study the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 situation. The samples were 291 male and female patients with diabetes and hypertension living in a sub-district in Warinchamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province. The questionnaire on the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases was used. Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was employed to investigate the reliability of the questionnaire, and the value was 0.94. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation and Spearman Rank Correlation were also analyzed in this study. The results revealed that the overall quality of life of patients with chronic diseases in the COVID-19 situation was at a moderate level ( = 87.60, S.D. = 15.93). When considering each aspect, it was found that the quality of life regarding environmental, physical, mental and social relationship was at a moderate level.  In terms of factors associated with quality of life of patients with chronic diseases, it revealed that income was negatively correlated with quality of life at the statistically significant level of 0.05 (r = -.12). Furthermore, access to health services was positively correlated with quality of life at the statistically significant level (r_s = .75). The study results can be used as the guidelines for nurses in providing home and community care services for patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 situation in order to promote good quality of life for patients with chronic diseases.