Quality of Life for Older Adults with Neuropathy

Abstract

Background; Neuropathy is a chronic condition among older adults where neuropathic pain has an effect on function and quality of life. Neuropathic pain underlies an estimated 30-65% of the activity seen at hospital pain clinics. In severe cases of chronic pain, the health-related quality of life is ranked as worse than other pain conditions, heart failure, or even cancer. Aim of study: The study is aimed to assess quality of life for older adults with neuropathy. Study design: Descriptive exploratory design was utilized to assess the quality of life for older adults with neuropathy. Setting: The study was conducted at Internal Medicine in El Demerdash hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Sample: A purposive sample was used to the conducted study and was estimated 218 older adults with neuropathy. Tools: Three tools were used: interviewing questionnaire, medical records and neurological examination scale. Result: There was 38% of older adult had satisfactory knowledge about the neuropathy diseases, 77.5 % of them had poor level of practices, 34.9 % of older adults suffer from poor quality of life and 69.3% of them had not achieved their health needs. 77.1 % of older adults their quality of life was highly affected negatively according to physical health aspects, 40.4% of them affected psychologically, 53.2% of them had highly negative effect by spiritual aspects, and socioeconomically effect on 40.8% of them, also, the older adults suffered from complication of neuropathy as skin ulcer for 61.9%, falling to the ground for 36.7%, addiction to painkillers for 32.1%, insomnia for 23.4%. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between total knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics. There was insignificant relation between total older adults 'knowledge about neuropathy and Quality-of-life. The majority of older adults were poor level of practices. Finally, most of older adult's unachieved health needs. Recommendations: further studies to provide nursing intervention about rising patients' awareness toward prevention of neuropathy and improving QOL.