The relationship between quality of life and hopelessness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus WHO presented to primary care

Introduction and Aim: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease and hopelessness in these patients is an effective factor for poor quality of life. This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between quality of life and hopelessness in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Material and Method: The population of this descriptive correlational study consisted of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who presented for any reason to four family health centres in the provincial centre of Erzincan between November 2018 and May 2019. No sampling was attempted; 308 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who presented to the family health centres where the study was being conducted between the above dates and who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study sample. The study data were collected using a Descriptive Questionnaire, the WHOQOL-BREF-TR and BHS by way of face-to-face interviews. Results: The mean age of the patients in the research was 64.27±10.38. The mean WHOQOL-BREF-TR psychological domain score of the individuals was 12.01±4.39, Social domain score 13.09±3.64 and Environment-TR domain score 14.25±4.46. The mean total BHS score turned out to be 9.073±8.55. A significant moderate negative correlation was found between the mean scores of the Psychological, Social and Environment domains of the WHOQOL-BREF-TR and the mean total and entire subscale scores of BHS (p<0.001). Conclusion: The perceived quality of life of the patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus was found to be above the moderate level, their perceived hopelessness at a moderate level and as hopelessness increased, quality of life declined. Nurses working in family health centres are recommended to provide guidance and support to patients with diabetes towards improving their quality of life and reducing their level of hopelessness. Keywords: Hopelessness, Nursing, Quality of Life, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus