QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE - A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL

In this study, the perceived quality of life (QOL) of 215 patients wit h end stage renal disease (ESRD) was examined. A LISREL model describi ng the patients' perceptions of their QOL was tested and, after some r evisions, was found to be consistent with the data (chi(2) = 33.78, df = 25, p = 0.113). QOL was measured by: the Self-Anchoring Striving Sc ale, the Index of Well-Being, and the Time Trade-Off Technique. The mo del includes the patients' medical characteristics, their health statu s, functional status, support and outlook. Outlook, functional status and treatment modality had significant direct effects on QOL. Support influenced QOL through the mediating variable, outlook. This study sug gests that a theoretical reexamination of the measurement structure of QOL is warranted.