EDOKPA EBALUNOSEN VERA

This study aimed to assess the QoL and the level of dependency in Activities of Daily Living(ADL)among orthopedic patients. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 88orthopedicpatients. Data were collected using a WHOQOL-BREF instrument and Barthel index. Themeanscores for individual items and the overall Grand Means were calculated for analysis. Theassessment revealed an overall moderate level of dependency in self-care practice(Grand Mean=2.01 on a 3-point scale, where 2.0 is the cut-of for moderate). Patients exhibitedthe highest dependency for tasks like Feeding and Bowel control (Mean=2.1), followedcloselybybathing, grooming, and transfers (Mean=2.0). The overall QoL was also rated as moderate(Grand Mean=3.08 on a 5-point scale). Patients demonstrated strong psychological resilience,with the highest score recorded for acceptance of bodily appearance (Mean=3.22). Conversely, QoL was significantly eroded by psychological and social burdens, with the lowest scores observed for negative feelings (anxiety, depression) (Mean=2.85) and satisfaction with sexlife(Mean=2.93). Furthermore, functional limitations regarding mobility (Mean=2.95) and pain interference (Mean=2.98) were identified as key physical constraints. Orthopedic patients maintain a moderate QoL despite significant emotional challenges and a reliance on assistance for daily needs. Clinical interventions must adopt a holistic approach, prioritising mental health support to address anxiety and depression, alongside specialized functional support for highly dependent tasks like feeding and bowel care to maximize patient independence. Keywords: perceived influence, self-care, practices, quality of life, patients, orthopaedic condition