Resumen
- Quality of life was assessed in 45 hemiplegic patients. Test measures considered the phase of the illness for individual participants. The modified Ashworth Scale was used to evaluate spasticity, the International Motor Strength Test was used to evaluate muscular strength, the Barthel Index was used to evaluate independence in daily activities, and the Health Survey Short-Form SF-36 was used to evaluate quality of life. Participants were also asked about gender, civil status, educational level, occupation and residence, affected side of the body, and time since the onset of the illness. A cluster analysis using the scores in the Ashworth Scale, the Motor Strength Test, and the Barthel Index showed three different groupings according to the phase of the hemiplegia. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare quality of life of patients in each group. Results showed that the physical function and the mental health of patients worsened as the illness evolved. By contrast, physical and emotional well being and general health improved in time as the illness evolved. No differences were found due to socio-demographic variables.