The relationship between patient activity level, influencing factors, and quality of life in individuals with chronic diseases

Chronic diseases are long-term health conditions that are difficult to treat or manage, with symptoms that progressively worsen and require continuous medical care. Patient activation refers to an individual's knowledge, confidence, skills, abilities, beliefs, and willingness to manage their health and healthcare. Identifying the factors associated with the level of activation in individuals with chronic diseases is crucial for enabling them to take responsibility for their treatment and self-care. Quality of life refers to an individual's perception of their position in life within the context of their culture and value systems, in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. The aim of this study is to determine the activation level of individuals with chronic diseases, identify the influencing factors, and examine the relationship between patient activation and quality of life. The population of the research was formed by individuals with chronic diseases who are registered at all family health centers in the city center of Denizli. The sample of the research was formed by individuals with chronic diseases who applied to family health centers from three different socioeconomic regions in the city center of Denizli. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power 3.1 program and determined to be at least 216 participants. The participants were included in the study in proportion to the number of family medicine units in the selected family health centers. Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared by the researcher, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), and the SF-12 Quality of Life Scale. A total of 239 participants were included in the study. Of these participants, 62,8% (n=150) were women, and 37,2% (n=89) were men. The mean age of the participants was 56,05 ± 14,83, with an age range of 19 to 93. The most common disease identified was hypertension, found in 43,9% (n=105) of the participants. When examining activation levels, it was determined that 31,4% (n=75) of the participants were at level 4 of activation. The mean activation score was calculated to be 58,93 ± 18,74. Responses from participants on the SF-12 quality of life scale were assessed in two subscales: the Physical Health Component Summary (PHCS12) and the Mental Health Component Summary (MHCS12). The average PHCS12 score was 41,59 ± 10,99 and the average MHCS12 score was 41,3 ± 10,36. When examining sociodemographic variables, it was found that age, body mass index, education level, occupation, economic status, and exercise habits were associated with activation levels. A significant relationship was identified between the activation level and the presence of hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Additionally, a meaningful correlation was observed between the number of diseases a participant had and their activation level. The number of medications used, who managed the medication follow-up, and whether participants forgot to take their medication were also significantly associated with activation levels. When analyzing the relationship between patient activation level and quality of life, a significant correlation was found between activation level and both the Physical Health Component Summary (PCS12) and the Mental Health Component Summary (MCS12) scores. Participants with higher activation levels were shown to have significantly better quality of life. This study has identified the factors influencing patient activation levels and demonstrated the impact of patient activation on quality of life. Further research should be conducted to explore the relationship between patient activation and quality of life in more depth.