The results of chapter 4 show that a significant relationship exists between the number of comorbidities and the mean scores on the health status indicator subscales. Significant results were found at the physical functioning scale, social functioning scale, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, pain and general health. Mean scores show that patients with one or more comorbidities scored lower on these subscales than patients with no comorbidities. Because of the impact of comorbidities on the health status of patients, it is important that medical and other files contain accurate information regarding possible other diseases from which patients could be suffering. A future research question could be whether medical files have correct information regarding the different diseases of patients.
Correct information is essential for good co-ordination of care.
In chapter 5 the social environment of the patient is considered. From literature, it is known that patients with a supportive network experience fewer problems from a disease than those with a less supportive social network. In research, social support is commonly used to describe the social position of patients. Contrary to measurements of social support, loneliness is seldom used to measure the social environment of patients, although loneliness could give insight into the situations where social support is absent. In chapter 5 the research question is whether feelings of loneliness can be predicted by living conditions, such as living with a partner and whether children are present, or by personal capacities.