J Korean Biol Nurs Sci.  2026 Aug;28(3):490-499. 10.7586/jkbns.26.024.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease in Korea: a cross-sectional study

• Jung GM
• Pahn J

• KMID: 2584235
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.26.024

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic liver disease and to provide foundational data for developing intervention programs.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 166 patients recruited from a general hospital in Jeonju, South Korea. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing depression, uncertainty in illness, and subjective health status and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 23 program.
Results
The mean HRQoL score was 3.19 ± 0.54 (range 1~5). Depression, uncertainty in illness, subjective health status, and education level were significant factors associated with HRQoL. Higher depressive symptom scores (β = -.24, p = .002) and greater uncertainty in illness (β = -.15, p = .044) were associated with lower HRQoL, whereas better subjective health status (β = .34, p < .001) and a higher education level were associated with higher HRQoL.
Conclusion
These findings may inform intervention programs to improve HRQoL in patients with chronic liver disease by addressing depressive symptoms, uncertainty in illness, subjective health status, and educational needs.

Keyword

Depression; Liver diseases; Quality of life; Uncertainty; Self-assessment