Assessing quality of life and associated factors in post-stroke patients using the world health organization abbreviated generic quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)

Introduction: This study piloted the World Health Organization Quality of Life short version form (WHOQOL-BREF) to compare the quality of life (QoL) in post-stroke patients who followed the medical stroke rehabilitation program and those whom did not. This study determined which quality of life domains were mostly affected by stroke, and whether there are influencing factors other than rehabilitation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Public Hospital in Surabaya. Patients with stroke less than two years since the first attack were included in this study (n = 52). Cronbach’s alpha test was performed to assess the internal consistency of WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The independent t-test and ANOVA were used to compare the differences between patient’s characteristics and the six domains of QoL (i.e., perception of QoL, perception of health, physical of health, psychological health, social relationship, and environmental health). Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the influential factors of QoL. Results: post-stroke patients aged more than 50 years old (76.9%), male (55.8%). But, only 48.1% of those patients participating in medical rehabilitation programs. Age group was significantly associated with QoL in the psychological health domain (p = 0.021); participating in medical stroke rehabilitation programs was significantly associated with social relationship domain (p = 0.026) and the education level was significantly associated to physical health (p = 0.005), psychological heath (p = 0.035) and perception of health (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Lower education level was significantly associated with a low perception of health, one of QoL domains; and it was the most influential factor of QoL among post-stroke patients

Smoking from a Younger Age Is the Dominant Factor in the Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Case-Control Study

Abstract: Background: Indonesia ranks 7th highest in the world for the number of deaths caused by tobacco use including those caused by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of initial smoking age and habit on the incidence of COPD. Methods: This research was a case-control study. The sampling in this research took a systematic random sampling method. The samples of this study were 56 respondents of a case group and 56 respondents of a control group. This study was conducted at Ngudi Waluyo Hospital, Wlingi, Blitar from October to November 2017. Results: The factors that influenced the incidence of COPD were being male (p = 0.00; OR = 6.333; 95%CI = 2.776–14.450), a smoker (p = 0.00050; OR = 5.1318; 95%CI = 1.9004–13.8958), initially smoking at <15 years old (p = 0.00; OR = 11,769; 95%CI = 4.086–33.903), initially getting into a smoking habit at the age of <15 years old (OR = 12; CI = 1346–106,950), initially getting into a smoking habit at the age of ≥15 years old (OR = 3647; CI = 1625–8183) and having smoked for ≥30 years (OR = 8857; CI = 3298–23,787). Conclusion: There are three factors of smoking behavior that influence COPD: smoking habit, initial smoking age and smoking duration. Of all factors, forming a smoking habit at the age of <15 years old has the biggest risk (OR = 12; CI = 1346–106,950)