Quality of Life in Older Adults Attending a University Family Practice Centre in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) and identify factors influencing it in older adults attending a University Family Practice situated in a semi-urban area in Sri Lanka, a lower middle income country.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the QoL among older adults attending the Family Practice Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

DESIGN: A descriptive cross sectional study.

SETTING: Family Practice Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

PARTICIPANTS: 140 registered older adults >60years who attended the centre over 3 months in 2012.

RESULTS: The majority of participants (51.4%) were between 60-69years, females (65%), 67.9% were married, and (88.6%) lived with their families. QoL was satisfactory, with spiritual and functional aspects being the most satisfactory and physical QoL being the least satisfactory, however latter too had a mean score (>50). Better QoL was seen in males, with better education, married and living with spouse, and perceived adequacy of income. Poorer QoL was seen in participants living alone, presence of 3 or more health problems, being admitted to hospital or, and accidents and falls in the past one year.

CONCLUSIONS: QoL in this group of older adults was satisfactory with spiritual and functional aspects being the most satisfactory and the physical aspect being the least. Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and accidents could help to improve QoL in older adults.