Samoprocijenjeno zdravlje i kvaliteta života u Bjelovarsko-bilogorskoj županiji: regionalne razlike i specifičnosti
Self-Perceived Health Status and Quality of Life in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County – Regional Differences and Specificities

Summary/Abstract: The self-assessed health status and quality of life represents an integral part of the population health studies today. These measures reflect the importance of the subjective perception of health and quality of life regardless of the objective measures. Considering the fact that chronic diseases and conditions have become a part of everyday life for the majority of the population, the issue of the quality of life may become questionable in certain circumstances. Health is one of the factors influencing a person’s quality of life; hence, the individual perception of satisfaction with one’s life should be recognised as a valuable indicator of the health status (in particular mental health) of the population. This paper presents the results of the Croatian Health Surveys carried out in 2003 and 2008. Regional differences in health and quality of life were surveyed on a sample numbering 9,070 persons from all across Croatia. The paper presents the results for the Bjelovar-Bilogora County in comparison with average results for Croatia on the whole. The health status was measured by the SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire, which comprises eight dimensions: Physical Functioning; Role-Physical; Bodily Pain; General Health; Social Functioning; Role-Emotional; Mental Health; Vitality. The subjective perception of the quality of life was measured by one item on general satisfaction with one’s life. The results have indicated to the existence of regional differences concerning health, while the level of the subjective perception of the quality of life has proven relatively low in comparison with the theoretically presumed normative range. Taking into consideration that health exercises an impact on any person’s everyday functioning, their work capabilities and the quality of life in general, the results gained indicate to the importance of improving psychological, biological and social factors having an impact on health and hence, indirectly, on the quality of life as well. In realising this objective, a multidisciplinary approach to the improvement of the quality of life of the population is of crucial importance.

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