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Determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece: a cross-sectional study

Determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece: a cross-sectional study
Determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece: a cross-sectional study
Background: hearing loss is an important public health issue, since it has a very negative impact on peoples’ lives, irrespective of the age at which it develops. However, globally there is a noticeable lack of epidemiological data for health outcomes for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. In Greece, people with hearing disabilities are systematically not included in health policy and planning processes, despite there being a marked tendency for global efforts aimed at improving their quality of life.

Methods: the sample consisted of 140 adults with hearing loss (86 d/Deaf and 54 hard of hearing) and 97 normal hearing as the control group. Data were collected from April to June 2015, using the Greek version of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2). Socio-demographic and non-medical characteristics were also collected and were analysed as possible determinants. Data analysis included bivariate and multivariate analyses such as linear regression models.

Results: multivariate analyses identified that in all the SF-36v2 dimensions, the scores among deaf people were lower than normal hearing. Determinants included the hearing loss degree, educational level, body mass index, levels of physical activity, and alcohol consumption levels, while the variable “number of family members per household” was associated with physical health summary scale score.

Conclusions: improving knowledge of the health-related determinants that affect quality of life for the population with hearing loss is an important step in designing targeted services and interventions. In light of these findings, a special effort must be made to ensure the wellbeing of this population.
2049-3258
Tsimpida, Dialechti
2fff4517-3c8e-445b-8646-7f645fa36b0a
Kaitelidou, Daphne
c60753bb-a032-41e5-84ae-71ec5315ab20
Galanis, Petros
ab1469ff-cc35-4c97-a572-1d322c295634
Tsimpida, Dialechti
2fff4517-3c8e-445b-8646-7f645fa36b0a
Kaitelidou, Daphne
c60753bb-a032-41e5-84ae-71ec5315ab20
Galanis, Petros
ab1469ff-cc35-4c97-a572-1d322c295634

Tsimpida, Dialechti, Kaitelidou, Daphne and Galanis, Petros (2018) Determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece: a cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health, 76 (55). (doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0304-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: hearing loss is an important public health issue, since it has a very negative impact on peoples’ lives, irrespective of the age at which it develops. However, globally there is a noticeable lack of epidemiological data for health outcomes for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. In Greece, people with hearing disabilities are systematically not included in health policy and planning processes, despite there being a marked tendency for global efforts aimed at improving their quality of life.

Methods: the sample consisted of 140 adults with hearing loss (86 d/Deaf and 54 hard of hearing) and 97 normal hearing as the control group. Data were collected from April to June 2015, using the Greek version of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2). Socio-demographic and non-medical characteristics were also collected and were analysed as possible determinants. Data analysis included bivariate and multivariate analyses such as linear regression models.

Results: multivariate analyses identified that in all the SF-36v2 dimensions, the scores among deaf people were lower than normal hearing. Determinants included the hearing loss degree, educational level, body mass index, levels of physical activity, and alcohol consumption levels, while the variable “number of family members per household” was associated with physical health summary scale score.

Conclusions: improving knowledge of the health-related determinants that affect quality of life for the population with hearing loss is an important step in designing targeted services and interventions. In light of these findings, a special effort must be made to ensure the wellbeing of this population.

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Published date: 8 October 2018

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 482415
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/482415
ISSN: 2049-3258
PURE UUID: 63ede090-5cd4-4c1d-bef2-b4a0f6b71906
ORCID for Dialechti Tsimpida: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3709-5651

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Date deposited: 03 Oct 2023 16:32
Last modified: 27 Jun 2024 02:05

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Author: Dialechti Tsimpida ORCID iD
Author: Daphne Kaitelidou
Author: Petros Galanis

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