Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Esrf Patients In Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Approach Using Whoqol-Bref

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF) patients in Pakistan. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in a province of Pakistan, the Punjab. WHOQOL-BREF (Urdu version, pretested for reliability and validity) was used as research instrument. Data was obtained through face-to-face interviews and where possible by gender-based focus group sessions. WHOQOL-BREF score was obtained and evaluated to determine HRQoL of ESRF patients. Patients were also asked to share their personal experiences of being diagnosed and treatment given. All obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS 20.0. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the revalidated WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was 0.799. The scores for negative feelings, depression, living place, personal relationships and sexual life were significantly different in the psychological health and social relations domains. Mean age, gender, education level, occupation and physical exercise were also significantly associated with the HRQoL of the ESRF patients. The WHOQOL-BREF was a reliable and valid research tool to evaluate HRQoL of ESRF patients in Pakistan. A significant impact on HRQoL of the ESRF patients was observed. Together with curative and preventative measures, there is also a great need to measure HRQoL of ESRF patients.