THE EFFECT OF NURSING EDUCATION ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

Cilj istraživanja: Glavni cilj istraživanja je interpretacija i vrednovanje rezultata upitnika prikupljenih u ambulanti za dijabetes Opće bolnice Šibenik, koristeći većim dijelom statističku obradu podataka. Upitnik je sastavljen na način da odabrane varijable što primjerenije testiraju postavljenu hipotezu (uzimanje anamnestičkih podataka o šećernoj bolesti, provođenje propisane terapije i procjena kvalitete života i radne sposobnosti pacijenata) koja će nam dokazati kako se boljom edukacijom oboljelih i pravilnom primjenom propisane terapije dijabetesa, postiže bolja kontrola znakova bolesti te se povećava kvaliteta života pacijenata. Ispitanici i metode: Istraživanje je provedeno u Općoj bolnici Šibenik, a uključilo je ispitanike upisane u dnevnu dijabetološku ambulantu. Upitnik je proveden na 72 ispitanika u periodu od 1. srpnja 2021. do 30. rujna 2021. Upitnik se sastoji od uzimanja anamnestičkih podataka o šećernoj bolesti, provođenja propisane terapije i procjene kvalitete života te radne sposobnosti pacijenata. Rezultati: U provedenom istraživanju najveći postotak ispitanika, čak njih 93,1%, pridržava se preporuke uzimanja terapije, što možemo i pored visokog postotka smatrati nedovoljnim u odnosu na brojne komplikacije neprovođenja terapije i kontrole znakova bolesti. Bilo kakvu komplikaciju dijabetesa ima 86,1% ispitanika. Najučestalije komplikacije su umor i nepodnošenje napora kako navodi 48,6% ispitanika. Što pravilnijom primjenom propisane terapije i pridržavanjem uputa o načinu života s dijabetesom, trebale bi se smanjiti navedene komplikacije. Kod skupina ispitanika, koji su educirani sa strane liječnika ili medicinske sestre o načinu kontrole znakova bolesti i poboljšanja kvalitete života, ustanovljen je manji broj komplikacija u odnosu na skupinu pacijenata koji se educiraju iz „ostalih izvora“. Ispitanici u anketi su sami procijenili kvalitetu života s dijabetesom na skali od 1-10, gdje veći broj označava i bolju kvalitetu života. Srednja vrijednost ocjene kvalitete života je 7, a kod najvećeg broja ispitanika je prisutan strah od pogoršanja bolesti (43,1%). Da su savjeti dobiveni od medicinskog osoblja pomogli u održavanju i poboljšanju kvalitete života, navodi 93,1% ispitanika, da su im djelomično pomogli, navodi njih 5,6%, a 1,4% ispitanika navodi kako im savjeti uopće nisu pomogli. Zaključci: Komplikacije šećerne bolesti glavni su uzrok smrtnosti u oboljelih. Prema dobivenim rezultatima velika većina pacijenata s dijabetesom Tip 1 i Tip 2 pridržava se preporuke uzimanja terapije te na taj način smanjuju moguće komplikacije bolesti. Važnost dobre edukacije i informiranja pacijenata s dijabetesom nam je jednako važna od strane liječnika i medicinske sestre, što nam pokazuju rezultati da su savjeti dobiveni od medicinskog osoblja pomogli u poboljšanju kvalitete života.Aim of the research: The main goal of the research is the interpretation and evaluation of the results obtained through questionnaires administered to patients of the diabetes clinic at the General Hospital Šibenik. Statistical data processing methods were applied to analyse the results. The questionnaire was designed to address the suitable variables selected to verify the hypothesis (collecting anamnestic data on diabetes patients, compliance with the prescribed treatment and assessing the quality of life and patient working capability). It is hypothesized that better education of patients and adherence to prescribed diabetes treatment leads to more successful management of disease signs and increases the quality of patients’ lives. Examinees and methods: The study was conducted at the General Hospital Šibenik, and included subjects enrolled in the diabetes day clinic. The questionnaire was conducted on 72 respondents in the period from July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The questionnaire consists of collecting anamnestic data of diabetes patients, compliance with the prescribed treatment and assessment of the quality of life and patient work capability. Results: In the conducted research, the largest percentage of respondents, as many as 93,1%, followed the recommended treatment. Although the percentage of patients adhering to treatment is high it cannot be considered as sufficient, especially in relation to the numerous complications arising from noncompliance with treatment or control of disease signs. 86,1% of respondents have at least one health complication related to diabetes. According to 48,6% of respondents, the most common complications are fatigue and inability to perform physical activity. Complying with the prescribed treatment and following the guidelines on lifestyle to manage diabetes should reduce the occurrence of these complications. In the groups of respondents who received education about management of disease signs and improvement of the quality of life from doctors or nurses, a smaller number of complications was found compared to the group of patients using other educational resources. Respondents in the survey themselves assessed the quality of life with diabetes on a scale of 1-10, with 10 indicating a high quality of life. The mean value of the quality of life assessment is 7, whereas the majority of respondents report fear of disease worsening (43,1%). 93,1% of the respondents state that the advice received from the medical staff helped to maintain and improve the quality of life, 5,6% state that the advice were partly helpful, and 1,4% of the respondents state that the advice did not help them at all. Conclusions: Complications of diabetes are the leading cause of death in patients. According to the obtained results, the vast majority of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes adhere to the recommended treatment and thus reduce the possible complications of the disease. The importance of good education and informing patients with diabetes is equally important from the point of view of doctors and nurses, as shown by the results confirming that the advice received from medical staff has helped to improve the quality of patients’ lives