Ohaeri Jude U, Awadalla Abdel W, Gado Osama M
Dept. of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine Hospital, 13041 Safat, Kuwait.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009 Aug;44(8):693-701. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0477-z. Epub 2008 Nov 26.
The usefulness of quality of life (QOL) as an outcome measure in medicine has inspired general population studies to establish normative values. The objectives of the study were to: (1) highlight the pattern of satisfaction with aspects of life circumstances among a nationwide sample of Kuwaiti subjects, using the 26-item WHOQOL Instrument (WHOQOL-Bref); (2) establish the QOL domain normative values; (3) highlight the relationship of QOL with socio-demographic variables and scores on scales for anxiety and depression; and (4) assess the relationship between domains of QOL.
A one-in-three systematic random proportionate sample of consenting Kuwaiti nationals attending the large cooperative stores and municipal government offices in the six governorates, were requested to complete the questionnaires anonymously.
There were 3,303 participants (44.8% m, 55.2% f, mean age 35.4, SD 11.9; range, 16-87). As a group, they were only moderately satisfied with their life circumstances. The domain scores for physical health (14.6 or 66.2%) and psychological health (14.2 or 63.9%) were at the middle of the range for the WHO 23-country report, while the social relations (15.0 or 68.8%) and environment (14.5 or 65.4%) domains were at the upper end of the WHO range. The general facet (GF) score (15.5 or 71.6%) was significantly higher than all domains. Diminished QOL was significantly associated with female gender, older age, social disadvantage, and high scores on anxiety/depression. Depression was the most important predictor of QOL, accounting for over 77% of total variance.
QOL was sensitive to distressing and unfulfilled life circumstances. Hence, coupled with the difficulty of conducting house-to-house surveys in such a conservative society, a cost effective way of tracking societal distress is by including a brief and responsive measure of QOL during national census exercises. Clinicians need to be aware of QOL issues because QOL is associated with clinical and social variables. The differences between GF (representing subjective well-being) and the domains, has implications for QOL theory.
生活质量（QOL）作为医学中的一项结果指标，其效用激发了普通人群研究以确立规范值。本研究的目标是：（1）使用26项世界卫生组织生活质量量表（WHOQOL - Bref），突出科威特全国样本中受试者对生活状况各方面的满意度模式；（2）确立生活质量领域的规范值；（3）突出生活质量与社会人口统计学变量以及焦虑和抑郁量表得分之间的关系；（4）评估生活质量各领域之间的关系。
从六个省的大型合作商店和市政府办公室中选取同意参与的科威特国民，按照三分之一的系统随机比例抽样，要求他们匿名完成问卷。
共有3303名参与者（男性占44.8%，女性占55.2%，平均年龄35.4岁，标准差11.9；年龄范围16 - 87岁）。总体而言，他们对自己的生活状况只是中等程度满意。身体健康领域得分（14.6或66.2%）和心理健康领域得分（14.2或63.9%）处于世界卫生组织23国报告范围的中间水平，而社会关系领域（15.0或68.8%）和环境领域（14.5或65.4%）处于世界卫生组织范围的较高水平。总体方面（GF）得分（15.5或71.6%）显著高于所有领域。生活质量下降与女性、年龄较大、社会劣势以及焦虑/抑郁高分显著相关。抑郁是生活质量最重要的预测因素，占总方差的77%以上。
生活质量对令人苦恼和未得到满足的生活状况敏感。因此，鉴于在这样一个保守社会中进行挨家挨户调查存在困难，在全国人口普查期间纳入一项简短且反应灵敏的生活质量测量指标，是一种跟踪社会苦恼的经济有效方式。临床医生需要意识到生活质量问题，因为生活质量与临床和社会变量相关。总体方面（代表主观幸福感）与各领域之间的差异对生活质量理论具有启示意义。
