Assessment of Quality of Life in Chronic Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis at Public Hospital, Lahore QoL in Hemodialysis patients

Quality of life of chronic renal disease patients is affected by several factors, depending on stage of disease, type of treatment and sociodemographic factors Objective: To assess the quality of life undergoing hemodialysis patients Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore during February to May-2019. Patients suffering from chronic renal disease were included in the study and uncooperative patients were excluded in the study. Total 100 samples of chronic renal disease patients were selected through non-probability convenient sampling technique. Patients were assessed through pre-tested questionnaire. SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis Results: According to results 39% patients reported that they were suffering from depression, 47% patients of chronic renal disease were unemployed, 28% patients were malnourished and 98% patients were having 3 or more dialysis sessions per week. Also only 26% patients thought that quality of life of older patients is better while 74% considered it poor. Only 77% patients thought that quality of life of middle aged patients is better while 23% patients considered that quality of life of middle aged patients was poor.42% patients thought that quality of life of young aged patients is better while 58%considered it poor Conclusions: Malnutrition, unemployment and hypertensionare the factors affecting the quality of life in patients undergoinghemodialysis in this study. The quality of life of middle aged patients was comparatively better.

Role of Microfinance in Financial Stability, International Diversification, Millennium Development Goals and Growth of Msmes

This dissertation consists of four essays measuring impact of microfinance. For the first three essays growth in microfinance is measured, with respect to five dimensions i.e. Number of active borrowers, Gross Loan Portfolio, Total Assets, Personnel and Equity. To investigate impact of growth in microfinance, microfinance index is developed by using principle component analysis and then panel regression models i.e. fixed effect and random effect models are applied. Whereas for the fourth essay stock prices of microfinance institutions are used in the analysis. In the first essay moderating role of political stability in the relationship between microfinance and financial stability is investigated. To unfold the relationship data of thirty eight countries from 1999 to 2012 is analyzed in the essay. This essay concludes that with growth in microfinance and political stability financial stability escalates but the effect of growth in microfinance on financial stability may not be same for politically stable and unstable countries. Although growth in microfinance will increase financial stability in both politically stable and unstable countries but its role is more prominent and effective in politically unstable countries. In the second essay role of entrepreneurial thrust in the relationship between growth in microfinance and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is investigated. A panel of 15 countries from 2004 to 2013 is investigated in this analysis. The study documented that in isolation microfinance may not increase growth of MSMEs but if a borrower possess entrepreneurial thrust then growth in MSMEs is evident. For the third essay three relevant millennium development goals i.e. (Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger, Improve maternal health & promote gender equality and empower ix women) are chosen to examine the impact of microfinance on millennium development goals in the presence of political stability as a moderating variable. Data of 32 countries from 2000 to 2012 is analyzed for checking impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation, whereas data of 41 countries from 2000 to 2012 is analyzed to investigate impact of microfinance on women empowerment and maternal health. The research concluded a positive role of microfinance in poverty alleviation and improving maternal health whereas a partial impact on education aspect of women empowerment is detected. In the fourth essay diversification benefits of including a microfinance stocks in a portfolio is analyzed. Prices of seven micro-finance stocks and stock indices of respective countries from five countries are taken from Thomson One banker database. Mean variance spanning test is applied to investigate the relationship. Although lesser or sometimes negative correlation between micro-finance stocks and international portfolio is spotted but no diversification benefits are identified by inclusion of micro-finance stocks in the portfolio.