Quality of Life in People with Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. Affecting one in five hundred people annually worldwide, it is the most common pediatric neurological surgical condition (Lim et al., 2018). Despite the frequency, there is no cure and the only treatment requires brain surgery. These procedures can cost tens of thousands of dollars each and they likely need more than one revision over time to replace the devices used to treat hydrocephalus (Lim et al., 2018).Given that the treatment of hydrocephalus is likely to come with substantial financial concerns, the goal of this evidenced-based practice review is to determine the relationship between socioeconomic status and quality of life in patients with hydrocephalus. Socioeconomic status is defined in this review as a combination of financial status, education, and occupation that define social standing (American Psychological Association, n.d.). On the other hand, quality of life is defined as a subjective appraisal that identifies the positive and negative outlooks on life (CDC, 2018). Nurses and other healthcare professionals can use the information from this review to ensure all patients have access to the care and education they need in order to mitigate adverse outcomes of this diagnosis and to provide the necessary support and resources to improve quality of life.