This study analyses the HRQOL of dementia patients’ caregivers. In Finland municipalities are responsible to arrange social and health care services to their inhabitants. To reduce the need for long term care services, families are encouraged to take care of persons who are chronically ill and need on varying degree of constant care in their daily life. Caregivers get a small reimbursement from public sector for their work. In this study we interviewed caregivers of dementia patients in the southern region of the Province of Oulu, Finland. The background data was collected from the caregivers, including age, sex, occupation, education, relationship to patient, living in the same household to patient, etc., and from the dementia patients, including assessment of neuropsychological measurements (MMSE, CERAD, CDR, NPI, proxy interviews) made by trained nurses, assessments made by experienced GPs, and possible brain image exams (CT or MRI) completed by specialist consultations. The data includes 77 caregivers who have completed the background variable and EQ-5D questionnaires. They have also answered to detailed questionnaire about the need of daily care that the patient requires, including their assessment of how demanding the care is for them physically, mentally and economically. The results of the study shows that the HRQOL of the caregivers of dementia patients is relatively close or even a bit better than in the general population. However, the caregivers have slightly higher rate of Anxiety or Depression problems in the EQ-5D measure and a lowered VAS score values. The degree of the dementia didn’t influence to the HRQOL of the caregiver.
کلید واژگان :quality of life , Rural, caregivers of dementia patients
ارزش ریالی : 300000 ریال
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