Health-related quality of life, stress coping, and optimism among adults receiving ambulatory care for non-communicable diseases
1
Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Enugu, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), optimism, and coping are psychosocial determinants of well-being and treatment outcomes in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While HRQoL measures patients’ subjective physical, emotional, and social well-being, optimism and coping shape their adaptation to chronic illness and treatment demands (1-3). In low-resource settings such as Nigeria, these constructs are underexplored despite their implications for patient-centred care. This study assessed the relationship between HRQoL, optimism, and coping strategies among outpatients in a tertiary hospital in southeastern Nigeria to inform policies for psychosocial integration in clinical practice.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted over 16 weeks at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla. Four hundred adults attending the cardiology, endocrinology, rheumatology, and nephrology outpatient clinics were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the EQ-5D for health-related quality of life (4), the Life Orientation Test–Revised for optimism (5), and the Coping Strategies Inventory–Short Form for coping (6). Analyses were performed in SPSS v19 using descriptive statistics and regression models to determine associations between sociodemographic factors, HRQoL, optimism, and coping.
RESULTS:
Mean scores were 71.2 ± 23.3 for HRQoL, 61.5 ± 14.4 for optimism, 78.8 ± 21.2 for engagement coping, and 60.7 ± 17.1 for disengagement coping. Participants showed moderate optimism and greater use of engagement coping strategies. HRQoL differed across clinical specialities. Disengagement coping and overall self-rated quality of life significantly predicted perceived health status, while education level and smoking were not significant. Although optimism was positively associated with HRQoL, this relationship was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), indicating that coping showed stronger associations with positive health outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS:
Policy efforts should integrate psychosocial and behavioural support into routine NCD care to encourage active or engaged coping.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), optimism, and coping are psychosocial determinants of well-being and treatment outcomes in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While HRQoL measures patients’ subjective physical, emotional, and social well-being, optimism and coping shape their adaptation to chronic illness and treatment demands (1-3). In low-resource settings such as Nigeria, these constructs are underexplored despite their implications for patient-centred care. This study assessed the relationship between HRQoL, optimism, and coping strategies among outpatients in a tertiary hospital in southeastern Nigeria to inform policies for psychosocial integration in clinical practice.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted over 16 weeks at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla. Four hundred adults attending the cardiology, endocrinology, rheumatology, and nephrology outpatient clinics were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the EQ-5D for health-related quality of life (4), the Life Orientation Test–Revised for optimism (5), and the Coping Strategies Inventory–Short Form for coping (6). Analyses were performed in SPSS v19 using descriptive statistics and regression models to determine associations between sociodemographic factors, HRQoL, optimism, and coping.
RESULTS:
Mean scores were 71.2 ± 23.3 for HRQoL, 61.5 ± 14.4 for optimism, 78.8 ± 21.2 for engagement coping, and 60.7 ± 17.1 for disengagement coping. Participants showed moderate optimism and greater use of engagement coping strategies. HRQoL differed across clinical specialities. Disengagement coping and overall self-rated quality of life significantly predicted perceived health status, while education level and smoking were not significant. Although optimism was positively associated with HRQoL, this relationship was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), indicating that coping showed stronger associations with positive health outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS:
Policy efforts should integrate psychosocial and behavioural support into routine NCD care to encourage active or engaged coping.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
