Quality of Life of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients in the Stroke Unit, Rayong Hospital

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to examine and compare quality of life of acute ischemic stroke patients according to selected factors. The sample consisted of 110 acute ischemic stroke patients in stroke unit, Rayong hospital. Research instruments composed of a personal data questionnaire, an assessment form which applied from the Barthel index of activities of daily living, with the reliability of .96, and a scale of quality of life with the reliability of .86. Data were collected from June 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013. Statistics used for data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple comparison by LSD method.

The results revealed that: 1) 41.80% of patients had score of quality of life at a moderate level (= 52.30, SD = 12.60); 2) the movable patients had significantly score of quality of life than that of the unmovable patients (t = 2.370, p < .05); and 3) patients with different ADL had significantly different score of quality of life (F = 3.151, p < .05);-- patients with normal level ADL had significantly score of quality of life than patients with moderate level ADL, low level ADL, and very low level ADL (MD = 6.15, p < .05; MD = 10.96, p < .05; and MD = 18.38, p < .01, respectively). In addition, it was found that patients with high level ADL had significantly score of quality of life than patients with very low level ADL (MD = 13.58, p < .05).

This study suggested that health care providers should promote the movability and ADL of acute ischemic stroke patients, so as to get better quality of life.