Summary
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in home health care patients
according to change in health status outcomes between the start of care and discharge
or 60 days, whichever came first.
Methods
This is a prospective descriptive study. The convenience sample consisted of 100 home
health care patients, who started receiving home health care services from a home
health care agency in the United States. The World Health Organization Quality of
Life Scale-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) was used for measuring QOL; activities of daily living
(ADLs) and instrumental ADLs were collected from the Outcome and Assessment Information
Set data via Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-required home health agencies.
Descriptive statistics, paired t tests, and multiple linear regressions were used for data analysis.
Results
ADLs and instrumental ADLs of participants significantly improved between start of
care and discharge or 60 days. Overall QOL, general health, and three of four QOL
domains (physical, psychological, and environmental, but not social domain) were significantly
improved at discharge or 60 days.
Conclusion
Home health care nurses should maintain and improve the functional ability of patients,
as this could improve the QOL of these patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 31, 2013
Accepted:
February 27,
2013
Received in revised form:
November 17,
2012
Received:
April 27,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.
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