The influence of the functional capacity on subjective well-being and quality of life of patients with silicosis

Abstract

Objectives: Silicosis is a fibrosing and irreversible lung disease. In China, 9870 new silicosis cases were reported in 2010. The physical and mental status of patients with silicosis should be paid attention to. The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of the patients’ functional capacity on subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL), provide the scientific basis for further intervention measures, and improve their health status.

Methods: We investigated 324 inpatients with silicosis during April 2011 to September 2011. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was the major methodology used to evaluate the functional capacity, the SF-12 (Short Form-12) to evaluate the QOL, and the MUNSH (Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness) scale to evaluate the SWB.

Results: The distance of 6MWT suggested a significant and positive correlation with SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis (P < 0.01). In China, patients with silicosis had low SWB and QOL.

Conclusions: The SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis are still relatively low and their health status needs improvement. At the same time, longer distances walked by patients suggest more positive influences on their SWB and QOL. It indicates that when the 6MWT cooperates with SWB and QOL, it may be able to get more accurate evaluation results of patients’ survival status.

Keywords:

• silicosis
• functional capacity
• 6-minute walk test
• subjective well-being
• quality of life

Notes

*Compared with (0), .

*Compared with (1), ; **Compared with (2), .

†The sample size was too small, so stage 0 was not included in the statistical analysis.