Association of Type 1 Diabetes, Social Support, Illness and Treatment Perception with Health Related Quality of Life

Abstract

This study examines the importance of perceived social support, perception of illness and treatment on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with type 1 diabetes. The purpose was to assess how type 1 diabetes, perceived social support, perception of the illness and treatment can be predictors of health related quality of life and how these factors associate. Additional purpose was to establish the reliability of Illness Index and Treatment Index among Greek population. Four questionnaires were used, the Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index-15 (MVQoLI-15), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Illness Index, and the Treatment Index. Participants were type 1 diabetics. The sample consists of 60 volunteers, 19 males and 41 females. All participants were Greeks. There was a correlation between variables of social support, treatment and illness index and the variables of HRQOL. Several domains of social support, the illness and treatment perception, are statistically significant predictors of the total HRQOL. Treatment and Illness Scales were found highly reliable among Greek population (20 items; α = 0.93). Results suggest that social support interacts with relationships, spirituality and the total QOL. Family interacts with spirituality and total QOL. This study indicates friends as the most important and positive factor towards most of the HR-QOL's subsections. Findings support that perception of the condition (II) and perception of the treatment (TI) are predictors of HRQOL. This study aims to establish the reliability of Illness and Treatment Index among Greek population.