The relationship between self-care preparedness and quality of life in a 3-year-follow-up: a study in primary health care.

BACKGROUND

Measuring self-care preparedness may enable better support for patients in general practice.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the relationship between the self-care preparedness index (SCPI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a longitudinal analysis over 36 months.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of an intervention group of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were adults (n = 256) with hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease in primary health care. The intervention group was included in the present study since they had answered SCPI as a part of the intervention. The relationship between SCPI and HRQoL (15D) and other outcomes were studied at baseline. The mean changes in SCPI and 15D were calculated from baseline up to 36 months. Regression-based analysis was used to study to what extent the baseline SCPI was associated with the change in SCPI and 15D and to what extent the change in SCPI was associated with the change in 15D.

RESULTS

At baseline, 15D, physical activity, self-rated health, life satisfaction, and patient activation measures had a positive linear relationship with SCPI. Body mass index and depressive symptoms had a negative linear relationship with SCPI. The longitudinal association between changes in SCPI and 15D was statistically significant and positive. The adjusted β was + 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.07 to 0.30, P = .002).

CONCLUSION

Those patients who managed to increase their SCPI over the study period experienced an improvement in HRQoL.