Related Experiment Videos
Social integration: an important factor for health-related quality of life after critical illness
Lotti Orwelius1, Carl Bäckman, Mats Fredrikson
1Department of Intensive Care, Linköping University/University Hospital of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. lotti.orvelius@lio.se
Objectives:
To examine to what extent availability of social integration affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in former intensive care unit (ICU) patients and how it relates to corresponding findings in a general reference group.
Design:
Controlled, multicenter, prospective, explorative study.
Setting And Patients:
HRQoL data (SF-36) were collected from three combined medical and surgical ICUs in the south-east of Sweden. Social integration was assessed by the Availability of Social Integration (AVSI) instrument (seven questions related to the social interaction of the patient). As reference group, a random sample (n = 6,093) of people from the uptake area of the hospitals was used. Social integration (AVSI), HRQoL (SF-36), and comorbidity were examined also in the reference group.
Interventions:
None.
Measurements And Results:
The level of social integration significantly affected HRQoL for the former ICU patients, whereas no such effect was seen for the general reference group. For the ICU patients, social integration affected HRQoL to a larger extent than age, sex, and the ICU-related factors examined, but to a lower extent than the pre-existing diseases.
Conclusions:
For a comprehensive assessment of HRQoL in former ICU patients, it is mandatory to include the effect of social integration.
Related Concept Videos
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Classification of Illness
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
Importance of Need for Affiliation
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Dimensions of Health and Illness