Health Behaviors and Quality of Life in Older Adult Inpatients with Multiple Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan

Purpose: Numerous community-based studies have explored the relationship between health behaviors and the quality of life (QoL) of older adults, often revealing that poor health behaviors can contribute to the development of multiple chronic diseases. Despite the growing importance of healthcare and QoL for older adults, there remains a scarcity of research examining the connection between health behaviors and QoL in older adult inpatients with multiple chronic diseases. The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between health behaviors and the QoL in older adult inpatients, as well as to identify the significant predictors influencing the QoL of older adult inpatients.
Methods: A cross-sectional, correlation study design was employed, utilizing convenience sampling. A total of 120 inpatients participated, providing data through structured questionnaires covering demographic characteristics, health status, health behaviors, and a QoL scale. Health-related QoL was assessed using the brief Taiwanese version of the World Health Organization QoL Questionnaire. The health behaviors scale was modified from the literature to suit the health behaviors of older adults with chronic diseases. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was conducted to determine the impact of health behaviors on health-related QoL.
Results: The average QoL score for older adult inpatients with multiple chronic diseases was 53.35 points. Out of a possible 32 points in the health behaviors assessment, the average score was 15.17±4.87. Among the four dimensions of the QoL scale, the environmental relationship dimension had the highest average score (14.53), while physiological health had the lowest (12.39). Comprehensive stepwise regression analysis results indicated that age, primary source of income, sufficiency of income, activities of daily living, living habits, and health promotion activities significantly influenced the QoL among older adult inpatients with multiple chronic diseases.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Enhancing the QoL of older adults with multiple chronic diseases requires the promotion and maintenance of their daily life functions and the cultivation of positive health behaviors.