Health-related quality of life among Koreans with chronic respiratory disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to identify physiological and psychosocial variables predicting the HRQoL among Korean people with chronic respiratory disease (CRD). DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlation study was done with a convenience sample of 112 participants (aged 62.9 +/- 1.2.9 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1%] predicted = 52.3 +/- 20.2) from the out-patient respiratory clinic of a large university hospital in Korea. HRQoL was measured using the chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (CRDQ). To identify the influencing factors, physiological (lung function, dyspnoea, symptom experience and exercise performance) and psychological (mood states and self-efficacy) variables were examined using path analysis. RESULTS: Participants had a moderate level of HRQoL, with the lowest scores in CRDQ-fatigue (3.3 +/- 1.3) and the highest in CRDQ-mastery (5.2 +/- 1.0). Anxiety and a depressive mood state (-0.38) exerted the highest influence on HRQoL, followed by self-efficacy (0.36), dyspnoea (-0.27), exercise performance (0.22) and respiratory symptoms (-0.17). CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasise the importance of a multidimensional therapeutic approach to improve HRQoL. Comprehensive interventions, including enhanced exercise performance, self-efficacy and symptom management, should be considered to improve HRQoL in Koreans with CRD.