PUBLIC HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT AMT, v. II, no. 3, 2014, p. 167 QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT IN A GROUP OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE REHABILITATION CLINIC WITHIN THE CLINICAL COUNTY EMERGENCY HOSPITAL OF SIBIU CARMEN DANIELA DOMNARIU 1 , SIMONA MARIA POP 2 , HORAŢIU PAUL DOMNARIU 3 1 “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2 Student “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 3 Student University of Ulm, Germany Keywords: quality of life, patient, assessment Abstract: Introduction: quality of life is a complex concept, which allows a picture of people’s lives and of the society in which they live. Quality of life, seen as a result of care refers to survival after the therapeutic intervention, the impact of the disease and treatment on the health status in terms of physical and emotional wellbeing and on the lifestyle of the patient. Purpose: this paper aims at assessing the quality of life of a group of patients admitted to the Medical Rehabilitation Clinic II within the Clinical County Emergency Hospital of Sibiu and the level of satisfaction of the patients who have benefited from the services of this clinic, during 2013 -2014. Material and methods: the study is a descriptive, transversal one, comprising 100 patients interviewed based on an anonymous questionnaire with open and closed questions. Results: 59 of the patients were hospitalized for medical rehabilitation for the existence of neurological distress. The most affected area of activity was housework, the ability to move, sleep and the availability for the social activities. For 80% of patients, there is a degree of disability induced by the disease, and 21 of them have noted a negative influence of the suffering on the quality of life, rated as unsatisfactory. Conclusions: the study demonstrates the need for quality of life assessment so as to highlight the therapeutic needs of medical rehabilitation and the efficacy of these therapeutic measures with a view to improve the patient’s condition, respectively the level of satisfaction about his own life. Cuvinte cheie: calitatea vieţii, pacient, evaluare Rezumat: Introducere: calitatea vieţii este un concept complex, care permite realizarea unei imagini de ansamblu asupra vieţii oamenilor şi a societăţii în care aceştia trăiesc. Calitatea vieţii, văzută ca rezultat al îngrijirilor medicale se referă la supraviețuirea după intervenţia terapeutică, impactul bolii şi al tratamentului asupra stării de sănătate ca bunăstare fizică şi emoţională şi asupra stilului de viaţă al pacientului. Scop: prezenta lucrare îşi propune să evalueze calitatea vieţii unui lot de pacienţi internaţi în Clinica de Reabilitare Medicală II a Spitalului Clinic Judeţean de Urgenţă Sibiu şi nivelul de satisfacţie a pacienţilor care au beneficiat de serviciile acestei clinici, în perioada 2013 -2014. Material şi metodă de lucru: studiul este unul descriptiv, transversal, care cuprinde 100 de pacienţi, intervievaţi pe baza unui chestionar anonim, cu întrebări deschise şi închise. Rezultate: 59 din pacienţi s-au internat pentru reabilitare medicală pentru existenţa unei suferinţe neurologice. Cel mai afectat domeniu de activitate a fost munca în gospodărie, capacitatea de deplasare, somnul şi disponibilitatea pentru activităţi sociale. Pentru 80% dintre pacienţi, există un grad de dizabilitate indus de boală, iar 21 dintre aceştia au remarcat o influenţă nefastă a suferinţei asupra calităţii vieţii, cotată ca fiind nesatisfăcătoare. Concluzii: Studiul demonstrează necesitatea evaluării calităţii vieţii pacienţilor, atât ca evidenţiere a nevoilor terapeutice de reabilitare medicală, cât şi ca evaluare a eficacităţii acestor măsuri terapeutice menite să îmbunătăţească starea pacientului, respectiv gradul de satisfacţie cu privire la propria viaţă. 1 Corresponding author: Carmen Daniela Domnariu, Str. Luptei, Nr. 21, 550330, Sibiu, România, E-mail: cdomnariu@yahoo.com, Tel: +40269 212812 Article received on 04.04.2014 and accepted for publication on 05.08.2014 ACTA MEDICA TRANSILVANICA September 2014;2(3):167-170 INTRODUCTION In assessing a patient’s quality of life, we must consider both the physical, metal and spiritual health of an individual or group, or even of an entire society, as well as the economic and social resources that improve the overall living conditions.(1) The quality of life assessment of a patient in terms of his/her health status is actually the evaluation of the way in which the wellbeing of the patients is adversely influenced over time by the condition the patient is suffering from. The first versions of the instruments for measuring the quality of life in relation to health care referred to the simple assessment of the physical abilities by an external evaluator (whether the patient is able to get up, eat, care etc.) The current concept of quality of life assessment recognizes that patients evaluate their current situation in relation to their own expectations.(2) This may vary over time and may react to the external influences, such as the length and the severity of the disease, family support etc. The perspectives of the patients and physicians regarding the assessment of life in relation to health differ significantly. Therefore, this concept is now assessed by using questionnaires filled out by patients. These are often multidimensional and include physical, social, emotional, cognitive aspects, work-related aspects, responsibilities and a variety of symptoms related to illness, medication side effects