Using the DLQI to measure quality of life in Podoconiosis patients in wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia

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2007-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Back ground: Podoconiosis is non-infective, usually crystalline Blockage of the limb lymphatic, almost always affecting the lower limbs. In Ethiopia Podoconiosis is an important public health problem in endemic areas like Wolaita zone. Podoconiosis has a serious social and psychological burden. The importance of assessment of quality of life has gained considerable value in recent years .There are several benefits of measuring QOL. Objectives: The objective of the study was to asses the applicability of DLQI in measuring the quality of life of Podoconiosis patients. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in wolaita zone, SNNPR Ethiopia in eight MFTPA`s outreach sites using the translated Amharic version of DLQI. Results: the questioners were administered to 148 Podoconiosis patients, 80 males and 68 females. Patients' ages ranged from 17-78 years (mean 35.95 years, SD 16.112,).fifty percent were new patients and the rest were patients treated for a minimum of three months at MFTPA. Twenty eight (18.9%) of patients were from urban areas and the rest were from rural sites. The Cronbach`s alpha was 0.71 among treated patients and 0.78 among new patients. Item total correlation ranged from 0.39-0.47. The DLQI score for new patients ranged from 4 to 21 (mean 12.76, median 13.00, SD 3.81) and those for treated patients ranged from 1 to 18 (mean 4.08, median 3.00, SD 3.16). The ranked mean difference between the two groups was statistically significant. (Z=-0.9477, p value< 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between age, sex and outreach sites groups regarding the overall DLQI score. Conclusions: In conclusion it was found that the Amharic version of the DLQI was a valid, reliable and acceptable for measuring the quality of life of Podoconiosis patients in the study settings and a three or more month treatment by MFTPA is associated with improving the quality of life.

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Using the DLQI to measure quality of life in Podoconiosis

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