Prevalence and Contributing factors of Hypothyroidism and the effectiveness of a Nurse led multi intervention programme on Quality of life, Subjective well being and level of Thyroid hormones among patients with Hypothyroidism.

PURPOSEOF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to identify theprevalence of Hypothyroidism in the Kannur district, Kerala. Further it aims toidentify the contributing factors of Hypothyroidism. Further it intends to findthe effect of nurse led multi intervention programme on Quality of Life andSubjective Well Being and Thyroid Hormone Levels.

BACKGROUNDOF THE STUDY

Thethyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones, which primarily influencethe metabolic rate and protein synthesis. The hormones also havemany other effects including those on development. Hypothyroidism,also called underactive thyroid or low thyroid, is acommon disorder of endocrine system in which the thyroidgland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause anumber of symptoms, such as poor ability to tolerate cold, a feeling oftiredness, constipation, depression, and weight gain. Disorders ofthe thyroid gland result primarily from autoimmune process that stimulate theover production of thyroid hormones or cause glandular destruction and underproduction of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism. Worldwide, too littleiodine in the diet is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Incountries with enough iodine in the diet, the most common cause ofhypothyroidism is the autoimmune condition called Hashimoto Thyroditis. Nearly42 million Indians reportedly have abnormal thyroid hormone levels. Indiaaccounts for 21 percent of the global population that has thyroid disorders. Nearlyevery third Indian suffers from one or the other kind of thyroid disorder,which most often causes weight gain and hormonal imbalances, and is morecommonly seen in women, according to a survey. Many patients with a diagnosisof hypothyroidism report a decreased quality of life compared to people withouthypothyroidism. Patients with untreated hypothyroidism had worse quality oflife, predominantly fatigue, compared to healthy patients withouthypothyroidism. Though India have passed two decades after the implementationof Iodine Deficiency Disease control programme and Iodisation of salt,hypothyroidism is still a concern to be tackled. It occurs in different formsvarying from congenital to auto immune types to adult form. The treatment ismore or less lifelong and quality of life and subjective well beingis affectedconsiderably.