Aims and objectives: To determine the current status of dementia patient's quality of life and compare influencing factors in China and Japan to inform nursing care and potentially improve the patient's quality of life.
Background: The prevalence of dementia is increasing related to lack of a cure, thus prompting some researchers and clinicians to focus on patient's quality of life.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Methods: A convenience sample of 200 mild-to-moderate dementia patients was obtained in Jinan city and 205 ones in Wakayama city. Then, we measured patient's quality of life and analysed the relation between general demographic information, cognitive function, activities of living, behavioural and psychological symptoms, and the patient's quality of life.
Results: The total score of Dementia Quality of Life in Jinan city was 89·82 ± 15·11; multiple linear regression showed that the influencing factors of quality of life were marital, economics, characteristics, activities of living, hypertension and irritability. And the total score in Wakayama city was 118·30 ± 14·56; the influencing factors were education, body mass index, activities of living and depression.
Conclusions: The total score of Dementia Quality of Life in Jinan city was significantly lower than Wakayama city. The same influencing factor between these two cities was activities of living.
Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses could implement interventions to focus on many of the patient's influencing factors, so that to improve their mental and physical health, which may slow the disease process and further improve the patient's quality of life. In addition, Chinese government could learn some experience from Japanese government, such as perfect the system of nursing insurance for elderly and introduce professional geriatric nursing talents to provide better service for the elderly.
Keywords: China; Japan; comparative study; dementia; factor analysis; quality of life.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.