The Effect of Orem's Self-Care Model on Quality Of Life of Patients with Hypothyroid Goiter

Hypothyroid goiter، like other chronic diseases، can affect the patients’ quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to examine the effect of Orem’s Self-care Model Application on QOL of patients with hypothyroid goiter. In this interventional study 70 patients with hypothyroid goiter referred to healthcare clinics of Yasuj were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=35). Data were collected by a questionnaire، evaluating self-care، according to Orem’s Model، and the SF-36 questionnaire، measuring the QOL at baseline and 3 months following intervention. For intervention، patients received Orem’s Self-care instructions adjusted to their self-care needs during eight 45-minute sessions. Data were analyzed by using paired and independent t-tests. In the experimental group، mean of QOL was 43. 28±17. 26 before and 79. 64±11. 86 after intervention. Paired t-test showed that the difference between pre and post intervention scores is significant (P=0. 001). In the control group، however، there was no significant difference in QOL before and after intervention. After intervention، eight domains of QOL in experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. This study revealed that applying Orem’s Self-care Model could improve the quality of life in patients with hypothyroid goiter.