Prevalence and Factors Associated with Demoralization Syndrome among Patients in Chronic Follow-up Clinic of Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital and Tepi General Hospital Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia: Institution Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Demoralization syndrome is currently a prevalent problem in chronically ill and debilitated patients. Patients suffering from chronic pain are at high risk of developing demoralization syndromes and suicidal behavior. Hence, little is known about demoralization in chronically ill patients in Ethiopia. Therefore, studying demoralization syndrome within the context of the psychological experience at the end of life is an important and relevant medical issue. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with demoralization syndrome among patients in chronic follow-up clinic of Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, and Tepi General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for further data analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to identify the distribution of socio-demographic characteristics, substance use, depression, and social support of the study participants. The data was described using descriptive analysis, frequency distribution, and summary measures. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to see the independent effect of predictors on outcome variables. Those variables with a P-value of ≤ 0.25 during bivariable analysis were taken to multivariable analysis. Hosmer and Lemeshow's goodness of fit test checked the final model fitness. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% CI was used to ensure a statistically significant association between demonization syndrome and predictor with a p-value ≤ 0.05.