Burden of Care, Quality of Life, and Coping Strategies Among Spouses of Alcohol Dependence Patients in Tertiary Health Care Centre
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Dear Editor, We read with interest the article published in a recent issue of your journal viz., Burden of Care, Quality of Life, and Coping Strategies among Spouses of Alcohol-Dependence Patients in Tertiary Health Care Centre.[1] We congratulate the authors for a well-conducted study. However, we have some queries, The study largely concentrates on the caregiving load that spouses bear without sufficiently examining the larger sociocultural framework that shapes these obligations. Unquestionably, caregiver load is a serious problem that has an impact on couples’ mental, physical, and financial health. The article, however, skips over the structural elements that increase this burden, such as gender dynamics, institutional support gaps, and public stigma. Studies reveal that these environmental elements are crucial in molding the experiences of caregivers, impacting their coping mechanisms and overall well-being.[2] The sample size was modest, as it was not possible to approach people in this COVID-19 period, a larger sample would have given better results. The sample, both cases and controls comprised only wives (females) of alcohol-dependent males and healthy males respectively, as in our tertiary care center, only male alcoholics and their female spouses approached. Even though they are commonly used in research of a similar kind, assessment instruments like the BIS and EUROHIS-QOL may not fully reflect the range of experiences that caregivers have. By revealing the subjective experiences, coping techniques, and resilience tactics—the spouses used while providing care, qualitative approaches could supplement quantitative assessments.[3] While the study contributes valuable data to the field of caregiver burden among spouses of alcohol-dependent patients, there are notable gaps that should be addressed in future research. A more comprehensive approach, integrating qualitative methods, examining broader contextual factors, and emphasizing policy implications, would enhance the relevance and impact of future studies in this area. Data availability statement Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated and/or analyzed during the current study. Author contribution All authors contributed equally to reviewing the literature; analysis, interpretation of data and drafting the article. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4402579996