Survivors, two years post-event, the influence of an unequality of life

in Social Relations in Turbulent Times (2011)

Two' years' post)event,' we' described' the' survivors’' life' satisfaction' (LS)' and'Quality'of' Life' (QoL),' the' LS' and'QoL'of' their' caregivers,'and'their'socio)demographic'and'health ... [more ▼]

Two' years' post)event,' we' described' the' survivors’' life' satisfaction' (LS)' and'Quality'of' Life' (QoL),' the' LS' and'QoL'of' their' caregivers,'and'their'socio)demographic'and'health'characteristics.' We'analysed'survivors’'LS'and'its'associations'with'these'determi) nants,'from'a'national'(mainly'urban'society)'survey'in'Luxembourg' (LU)'and'a'Bragança'district'(mainly'rural)' survey' in'the'Northeast' Portugal'(PT).' Over' 18' months' stroke' survivors' (≥18' years)' living' at' home' and' having'given'their'informed'consent'were'contacted.'The'Inspection/ Générale/de/la/Sécurité/Sociale'(LU)'and'the'District'Health'Centre' (PT)'had'previously'listed'all'confirmed'diagnosis'population.'Survi) vors' and' their' main' caregivers' were' interviewed' at' home' with' questionnaires'measuring'LS'(scale'1)10)'and'validated'QoL’'scales:' survivors’' Newcastle' Quality' of' Life' (Newsqol);' Whoqol)Bref' for' caregivers.' Participation'rate'was'26.5%'LU,'38%'PT:'94'LU'(65.5'years)'and'50' PT' (70.1)' survivors;' 62' LU' (59.3)' and' 46' PT' (60.7)' caregivers.' LU' survivors'and'caregivers'had'higher'QoL'scores'than'PT'samples.'PT' survivors' were' more' affected' by' stroke' impacts,' with' significant' differences' in'Newsqol'mobility,' ‘self)care’' (preparing' food,' shop) ping,' transport,' getting' washed,' dressed' and' showed),' feelings' (dependence,' about' oneself,' change' acceptance,' depressive,' of' useless,'loss'of'control'over'life),'and'emotional/status'(more'emo) tional,' sometimes' crying,' short)tempered,' less' tolerant' and' nerv) ous).' Only' PT' survivors' LS'was' linked' to' the' current' neurological' impairments.' Difference' estimates' were' obtained' between' survi) vors’'LS'and'Newsqol'self=care'(regression'coefficient'(rc)')0.28'PT),' caregivers’'LS'(rc')0.63'PT)'and'Whoqol)bref'psychological'(rc')0.67' PT),' environmental' (rc' )0.73' PT),' and' social/ relationship' (rc' )0.91' PT).' LU' survivors’' LS'was' associated'with' all'Newsqol'dimensions;' stronger'links'in'feelings'and'sleep;'none'with'caregivers’'Whoqol) bref.' Survivors''multi)dimensional'QoL'was' predictive' of' their' LS.' LU)PT' differences' recalled' the' idea' of' the' cumulative' effect' throughout' life'of' social' inequalities' in'health' and' highlighted' the' distinct' im) pact' of' living' in' an' urban' society' turned' towards' community' sup) ports'or'a'rural'society'based'on'domestic'care.'In'home'care'set) tings,' survivors’' LS' and' Newsqol' are' patient)centred' markers' for' individual'and'community'interventions.' [less ▲]