Secondary abstract: |
Introduction: Cirrhosis of the liver is a global health problem that significantly affects the quality of life of individuals and requires a major effort from the health system. This thesis aims to systematically review, analyse and synthesise the relevant literature, to explore and shed light on the current complexity of the disease, and to discuss possible guidelines to improve the quality of life of patients with liver cirrhosis and reduce the burden of the disease on society.
Methods: We reviewed the scientific literature in English in the international databases ScienceDirect and CINAHL. A total of 841 articles were reviewed. We then included the selected studies in a detailed analysis, ranked them according to the hierarchy of evidence, and assessed the strength of the evidence. The data were then presented using a synthesis table.
Results: In the final analysis, we included seven studies, which were grouped into second, third, fifth, and seventh levels. Most of the studies confirm an improvement in the quality of life of patients with liver cirrhosis, attributed to educational programs, regular follow-up, health education, and the use of specific instruments to measure quality of life. However, in some cases, programs or interventions have shown neutral or negative effects.
Discussion and conclusion: Cirrhosis of the liver is a terminal phase of most liver diseases that negatively affects the quality of life of patients, due to disease progression and psychosocial factors. Despite the need for better support from healthcare staff, the effectiveness of self-management programmes remains a challenge. Further research is needed to improve the quality of life of patients with liver cirrhosis. |