Quality of Life among Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract

Background: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) as troublesome symptoms, it results from the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the esophagus, oropharynx, and/or respiratory tract, it sufficient to impair an individual’s quality of life. Aim: Was to assess quality of life among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Research design: Descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The present study was conducted at Medicine Outpatient Clinic in Benha University Hospital. Sampling: Simple random sample was used for 313 patients at the previously mentioned setting. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used. I: A structured interviewing questionnaire which consisted of four parts to assess socio-demographic characteristics of patient, medical history, knowledge of patient regarding GERD and Patient reported practices regarding GERD. II: Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD. III: Quality of life of patient with GERD. Results: 48.6% of studied patients had poor total knowledge level regarding gastroesophageal reflux disease, 64.9% of studied patients had unsatisfactory total reported practices level regarding esophageal reflux, 54.6% of studied patients had high recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and 54.3% of studied patients had poor total QoL level regarding esophageal reflux. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between total patients QoL and their socio-demographic characteristics except for their sex and marital status, there were highly statistically significant relation between total knowledge scores and total practices scores of studied patients. There was highly statistically significant relation between total practices scores and total quality of life scores among studied of patient. Recommendations: Develop and implement educational program for studied patients to improve their knowledge and practices toward coping with GERD.