Health and healthy life have been accepted as a basic human right for every individual in society. It has been an important issue that humanity has aimed from past to present in a long and qualified life. When this concept, which consists of both abstract and concrete components, is examined;
Expected life expectancy is one of the important quantitative indicators on the basis of being human, a dignified, healthy and prosperous life constitutes its qualitative characteristics.
In some cases, such as individual independence, social activities, environmental conditions, affects the quality of life. Unmet needs are other conditions that are closely related to quality of life in conditions such as being healthy or sick.
In addition to economic conditions, life quality is also affected by many other conditions such as physical and mental health, social security, political stability, healthy environment. The concept of quality of life has objective and subjective aspects. Subjective aspect is about how the individual perceives themselves, their life and environment in general. Objective aspect can be accepted as meeting social, cultural and societal needs in order to maintain social status, welfare and physical well-being.
The concepts of existence, belonging and self-actualization of the individual are very important for quality of life. In existence, the individual wants to define who he or she is physically, psychologically and socially. In belonging; an individual wants to feel safe and in realization; an individual wants to reach her/his goals in life and to experience the feeling of self-realization. Quality of life in health is a sub-component of quality of life in general terms.
Scientific evidence is presented on some of the conditions that affect quality of life in health. When we look at these;
* “Achieving purpose in life”, which is an important issue of the social and perceptual dimension of health, enables people to live longer. Although biological-based explanations on this subject are limited, people existing biological, physiological, etc. It is emphasized that efforts to use their capacities in the best way can affect the process positively.
*Socio-demographic determinants affect quality of life.
* The improvement of economic conditions is an important factor that increases the quality of life.
* Pain is an important problem in the elderly with chronic disease and its failure to eliminate it affects the quality of life closely.
* Quality of life is adversely affected in patients with comorbid (more than one) psychiatric disease.
* Aging is an important determinant in the decline of quality of life.
Discrimination, sexism, inaccessibility to health services, insufficient physical and environmental conditions, the social security system not covering the old age, insufficient value given to the individual in the society, inadequacy of social support mechanisms can also be counted among the factors that negatively affect the quality of life.
To increase the quality of life of the individuals, who make up the society, is important that health is given with a holistic approach, which interventions are continued throughout life and that health services, are equal and accessible for every individual.
As a result, Dr. ELKİN states that quality of life is a multidimensional concept and especially in Family Health Centers, where primary health care services are provided, not only in the disease processes of the population, but also in healthy processes (infant, child, female population aged 15-49, follow-up and follow-up of non-communicable chronic diseases). She also stated that periodic controls will be important steps in improving the health of individuals and increasing their quality of life.
Reference
Public Health, Hacettepe University Publications Edt: Prof. Dr. Cağatay Güler, Prof. Dr. Levent Akın 2015/ ANKARA
