Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2003):

Quality of life of community-based chronic schizophrenia patients in Penang, Malaysia.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This is a study of the quality of life (QOL) of 174 community-based chronic schizophrenia patients in Penang, Malaysia. METHOD: The study samples were selected from the Out Patient Department, Department of Psychiatry, Penang General Hospital, Malaysia. The data was collected through personal interviews with the respondents. A questionnaire prepared by the research team was used to collect data on background characteristics. Lehman's (1988) Quality of Life Interview was used to collect data on patients' QOL. RESULT: Equal number of males and females participated in the study. The interviews on QOL indicated problems in the areas of life in general, place of living, daily activities, social relations, finance, work and general health. The results also revealed that community-based schizophrenia patients had acute poverty and experienced social isolation, discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. CONCLUSION: Implications of these results on the implementation process of National Mental Health Policy in Malaysia are discussed. The research paper also discusses the negative impacts of limited rehabilitation facilities available in the community and its implications on the QOL of severely mentally ill patients. The need for immediate research attention on QOL of such patients in the South-east Asian region has been highlighted.

Author information

Author/s: Mubarak, A R (AR); Baba, Ismail (I); Chin, Low Heng (LH); Hoe, Quah Soon (QS);

Affiliation: School of Social Administration and Social Work, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, Adelaide. mubarak(-atsign-)flinders.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (Aust N Z J Psychiatry), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Oct; vol 37 (issue 5) : pp 577-85

Dates: Created 2003/09/26; Completed 2004/03/09; Revised 2009/11/11;

PMID: 14511086, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/11/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Catchment Area (Health) Chronic Disease Community Mental Health Services Female Humans Malaysia Male

Male Quality of Life Questionnaires Schizophrenia - ethnology; therapy Severity of Illness Index Social Isolation Socioeconomic Factors Workplace

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