Quality of Life Assessment Between Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis Patients of the Same Age Range
Condition: Stroke; Multiple Sclerosis; Quality of Life; Depression; Mental Health Disorder
MeSH terms: Stroke; Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis; Depression; Mental Disorders
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to investigate the physical, psychological, social and
      functional aspects of life in relatively young people suffering from vascular stroke and in
      people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis of the same age group and to generally assess the
      subjective perception of these patients about their general health and well-being. In
      addition, to assess the degree of depression experienced by people in this age group who
      suffer from these diseases. Additional objectives are to investigate important factors that
      negatively affect the quality of life in this group of patients, according to the
      international literature, and to highlight targeted interventions to promote mental and
      physical health in order to improve the quality of life in these chronic patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      Research on the importance of quality of life in chronic neurological patients has
      occasionally occupied the international scientific community. Due to the large scale of
      strokes occurring at young ages as well as multiple sclerosis, more and more research is
      focusing on the quality of life of these individuals.

      The present study is retrospective as well as prospective. The purpose of this study is to
      investigate the physical, psychological, social and functional aspects of life in relatively
      young people suffering from vascular stroke and in people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
      of the same age group and to generally assess the subjective perception of these patients
      about their general health and well-being. In addition, to assess the degree of depression
      experienced by people in this age group who suffer from these diseases. Additional objectives
      are to investigate important factors that negatively affect the quality of life in this group
      of patients, according to the international literature, and to highlight targeted
      interventions to promote mental and physical health in order to improve the quality of life
      in these chronic patients.

      In particular, the research questions that this study is trying to answer are:

        -  Do young stroke patients exhibit the same quality of life as healthy populations of the
           same age?

        -  Do young people with multiple sclerosis have the same quality of life as the healthy
           population of the same age?

        -  Do young people with stroke have the same quality of life as patients with multiple
           sclerosis of the same age?

        -  Are patients (either with multiple sclerosis or stroke) with almost the same degree of
           physical independence and are older patients characterized by greater depression and
           reduced quality of life compared to younger ones?

        -  Is degree of disability associated with decreased quality of life and increased
           depression between the two groups of chronic patients?

        -  Does gender affect the quality of life and the presence of depression?

        -  Do marital and economic status affect the indicators of depression and quality of life
           in both populations to be investigated?

        -  Is location of living a factor that contributes to the reduced quality of life and the
           triggering of depression in young people with stroke and multiple sclerosis compared to
           the healthy population?
    

Intervention name(s): Questionnaire
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): In the present study a questionnaire was designed by combining three separate questionnaires, which were weighted for use in Greek population and which are often being used to investigate quality of life of young populations diagnosed with stroke or multiple sclerosis, according to international literature. Those were the following questionnaires: Bathrel (Mahoney et al), Patient Health Questionairre (PHQ-9) (Thomson K et al), Health Survey SF-12 (Kontodinopoulos et al 2007). A draft questionnaire was then created with the addition of questions deemed necessary to provide necessary research information. Overall the questionnaire consisted of 42 questions.
Part A The first part of the questionnaire included demographics of participants. Part B. The second part of the questionnaire included an assessment of the functionality and independence, an evaluation of experienced depression and an assessment of the quality of life of the target population.
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Other
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        In the present study the sample were patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or
        multiple sclerosis (regardless of EDSS).

        All participants belonged to the age group 18-60, ie they reflected the usual age when the
        person is professionally active in most parts of the world. These are, after all, the age
        limits used by the World Health Organization.

        The sample was randomly selected through stratification with representation of patients
        based on gender, age category and geographical location. Data on age, sex, race, marital
        status, occupation, educational level, plus morbidity, were identified from medical records
        and self-reports.
      
Keywords: stroke; multiple sclerosis; quality of life; mental health; depression; anxiety; well-being; wellness; neurological disorder