Abstract:
This descriptive study aimed at examining the outcomes of continuity of care in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), including health status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and satisfaction. The sample consists of 1) 104 medical records of ILD patients received continuity of care at Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic, Central Chest Institute of Thailand for 1 year with follow-up of health status and HRQOL for three times: at the first visit, 6 months, and 12 months, and 2) 60 ILD patients who received continuity of care for at least 1 year. The instruments used for data collection included 1) personal data recording form, 2) medical data recording form, included health status: dyspnea (mMRC), body mass index (BMI), pulmonary function (FVC% predicted, DLCO% predicted), functional ability (6MWD), HRQOL (EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS), and 3) satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Friedmans rank test, and Repeated measures ANOVA. The results revealed that all 3 times, patients mostly had dyspnea in level 1. Three follow-ups over one year showed that patients' mMRC, BMI and FVC% predicted were not different (p >. 05), but DLCO% predicted decreased significantly (p < .001). 6MWD and EQ-5D-5L at 6 and 12 months were significantly higher than the first visit (p < .001), whereas EQ VAS scores were not different (p > .05). 86.7% of the patients had satisfaction on the continuity of care in high level. The study results provide data for improving the quality of continuity of care for patients with ILD.