Influence of Care Burden-related Factors on Mental Health and Quality of Life of the Caregivers of Dementia Patients

Authors : Onur KEKLİKÇİ, Kenan TOPAL, Çiğdem GEREKLİOĞLU, Hüseyin AKSOY

Pages : 10-17

Doi:10.30621/jbachs.915418

View : 25 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2023-01-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: To evaluate the care burden of the caregivers of dementia patients and the relationship between anxiety-depression risk and quality of life. Methods: This study was conducted with 152 primary caregivers of dementia patients by using “Caregiver Burden Inventory”insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CBI);, “Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HADS); and “Short Version of the Quality of Life Assessment Instrument From the World Health Organization” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(WHOQOL-BREF);. Results: Mean age of the caregivers was 49.4±9.0 years; of them, 79.6% were females, 54.6% were graduates of elementary/secondary school. Mean age of dementia patients was 79.8±8.0 years; of them, 55.2% were females, 46.1% had advanced stage dementia and 30.9% had pressure ulcers. High care burden was detected in 101 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(66.4%); caregivers, anxiety in 37 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(24.3%); and depression in 109 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(71.7%);. The scores of HAD-A and HAD-D were significantly high insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.007, p=0.002); and WHOQOL-Bref score was significantly lower insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.001); in caregivers of the patients with pressure ulcers. Scores of CBI, HAD-A and HAD-D were found to significantly increase insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.005, p=0.042 and p=0.030, respectively); and WHOQOL-Bref score was found to significantly decrease insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.009); as stage of dementia increased. HAD-A and HAD-D scores were detected to increase insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.000, p=0.000); and WHOQOL-Bref score was detected to decrease insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.000); as CBI score increased. Conclusion: Dementia causes a high care burden for the caregivers. It is of vital importance to facilitate reaching professional support services for reducing care burden that increases with increasing stage, and establishing hospice care institutions for reducing the risk of mental disorders and for improving quality of life of the caregivers.
Keywords : home care, dementia, family caregiver, quality of life