Relationships between quality of life and family function in caregiver

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are caregivers who see their quality of life (QoL) impaired due to the demands of their caregiving tasks, while others manage to adapt and overcome the crises successfully. The influence of the family function in the main caregiver's situation has not been the subject of much evaluation. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between the functionality of the family and the QoL of caregivers of dependent relatives.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a cross-sectional study including 153 caregivers. Setting: Two health centers in the city of Salamanca(Spain). Caregiver variables analysed: demographic characteristics, care recipient features; family functionality (Family APGAR-Q) and QoL (Ruiz-Baca-Q) perceived by the caregiver. Five multiple regressions are performed considering global QoL and each of the four QoL dimensions as dependent variables. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to study the influence of the family function questionnaire on QoL.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Family function is the only one of the variables evaluated that presented an association both with global QoL and with each of the four individual dimensions (p < 0.05). Using the CCA, we found that the physical and mental well-being dimensions are the ones which present a closer relationship with family functionality, while social support is the quality dimension that is least influenced by the Family APGAR-Q.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We find an association between family functionality and the caregiver's QoL. This relation holds for both the global measure of QoL and each of its four individual dimensions.</p

Dependencia, cuidado informal y función familiar. Análisis a través del modelo sociocultural de estrés y afrontamiento

Objetivo: Valorar la importancia de la función familiar de los cuidadores a través del modelo transaccional de estrés-afrontamiento adaptado al cuidado.Métodos: Diseño: estudio descriptivo transversal. Se realizó una encuesta semiestructurada en el domicilio. Sujetos: Se estudiaron 153 cuidadores de familiares dependientes en un centro de salud urbano seleccionados de forma consecutiva. Mediciones: datos socio demográficos de cuidadores y pacientes, dependencia (Barthel), y deterioro cognitivo(Pffeifer) del paciente, y la intensidad de los cuidados, apoyo social (Duke-unk11), afrontamiento(COPE-Carver), función familiar (APGAR-familiar), la sobrecarga(Zarit), la salud mental(Goldberg12) y calidad de vida(Ruiz-Baca) del cuidador.Resultados: Los cuidadores son hijas o esposas sin trabajo remunerado, con 63 años de edad media y bajo nivel educativo. El 30,3% de los cuidadores presentan disfuncionalidad familiar. Las familias de pacientes con problemas mentales son disfuncionales en el 44,6% mientras que las que tienen problemas físico son el 21,3% (p<0,05). Se observa correlación negativa (r =-0,170, p=0,036) entre funcionalidad familiar y deterioro cognitivo, pero no hay correlación con el nivel de dependencia funcional. Los cuidadores perciben elevados niveles de apoyo social, tanto de su red familiar inmediata, como de la red social y de servicios. Las estrategias de afrontamiento más utilizadas por los cuidadores, son la religión y la aceptación; las menos utilizadas: el humor y la negación. El 48% de los cuidadores presentan sobrecarga, el 30% deterioro de la salud mental y en general una percepción positiva de la calidad de vida. Las demandas de cuidado y las variables contextuales no están relacionadas con la sobrecarga, salud mental y calidad de vida, pero la función familiar actúa como factor de mediación determinante en todas ellas.Conclusiones: La función familiar constituye una variable de gran relevancia para explicar los efectos del cuidado en la sobrecarga, la salud mental y la calidad de vida de los cuidadores.Objective: Assessing the importance of the role of family caregivers in the transactional model of stress and coping adapted to care. Methods: Design: cross sectional study. Interviews were conducted in the homes of caregivers. Subjects: We studied 153 caregivers and their family dependents. The study was conducted in a primary care health urban center. Measurements: socio demographic data of caregivers and family dependents, dependence (Barthel) and cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer) of patient, and intensity of care, social support (Dunk-unk11), coping (COPE-Carver), family function (Apgar-familiar), overload (Zarit), mental health (Goldberg12), quality of life of caregiver.Results: Caregivers are daughter and wife without job, 63 years aged, and low educative level. The 30.3% have dysfunctional families. Families of patients with mental problems are dysfunctional at 44.6% while those with physical problems are 21.3% (p <0.05). There was a significant negative correlation (r = - 0170, p = 003) between family and cognitive function, but there wasn t correlations with dependence level. The caregivers perceived high levels of social support, both in their immediate family network, as the social network and services. The coping strategies most frequently used by caregivers, are religion and acceptance; the least used: the humor and denial. The 48% of caregivers have overload, 30% have deterioration their mental health and in general a perception positive of quality of life. The claim of care and contextual variables there were not relations with overload, mental health and quality of life, but the family functioning serves as a factor in mediating determinant in all their.Conclusion: Family functions constitute an important variable for explicate the care effects in on overload, mental health and quality of life of caregivers

Effects of a Psychological Intervention in a Primary Health Care Center for Caregivers of Dependent Relatives: A Randomized Trial

[ENG]Purpose: To assess, in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC), the effect of a psychological intervention in mental health among caregivers (CGs) of dependent relatives. Design and Methods: Randomized multicenter, controlled clinical trial. The 125 CGs included in the trial were receiving health care in PHC. Inclusion criteria: Identifying oneself as principal CG of a dependent relative with dementia or any other disability, and having performed this task for at least 6 months. CGs were randomized to an intervention group (cognitive-behavioral treatment for managing dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving and training in self-help techniques) or to a control group (care as usual). CG mental health (General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12]), dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving, quality of life, and burden were measured. Results: The intervention group showed improvement in mental health: A mean reduction in GHQ-12 score of −3.33 points was recorded in the intervention group vs. the control group (95% CI: −5.95 to −0.70; p = .01; Cohen d = 0.55). Improvement was also recorded in dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving: (−5.84; 95% CI: −10.60 to −1.09; p = .01; Cohen d = 0.62). Among the CGs that completed the initial and final assessments, a mean of 4.77 (SD 2.68) attended a maximum of 8 sessions. Men attended more often (5.00 sessions with SD 2.68) than women (4.70 sessions with SD 2.45; p < .001). Implications: Psychological group intervention in the context of PHC, aimed at the CGs of dependent persons with dementia and other disabilities, has improved mental health condition in CGs