Year: 2013
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Most mild to moderate demented patients \nare cared at home. Studies have shown that carers face \nincreased stress and are prone to depression. In order to \nunderstand their needs, a collaboration study between \nDistrict Board, Community Rehabilitation Network and \nlocal hospitals was done. Objective: (1) To understand \ncare needs of demented patients and their carers in the \nfamily. (2) To assess difficulties faced by carers and evaluate \ntheir stress. (3) To find out which factors may aggravate \nor relieve carer stress. Method: The study was performed \nby interviewing 100 carers by questionnaire. Three main \nthemes were studied: (1) presence of depression by Center \nfor Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), (2) \ncaregiver burden by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), patients’ \nmemory and behavioural problems by Revised Memory \nand Behaviour Problems Checklist (RMBPC), patient ADL \nperformance, and (3) carer coping abilities by Brief COPE \nand perceived social support by Multidimensional Scale \nof Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: 49% of \npatients are in moderate to severe stage, with moderate to \nhigh ADL dependency level (mean ADL score: 62.4, with \n40% of patients scoring 60 or below). On average carers \nspent 13.8 hours per day on their relative. 24% of carers \nhave rated self-perceived health status as poor or very \npoor. 36% have little or no knowledge about the dementia \nillness. Regarding carer depression, 49% had CES-D score \nin the moderately and severely depressed range. Caregiver burden was high with ZBI score of 38.2 (>24 being highly \nassociated with depression). Memory and behavioural \nsymptoms were common with mean RMBPC 38.2. Carer \ncoping abilities as measured by Brief COPE was 24.6. \nPerceived social support as measured by MSPSS was \n56.2. Carer depression was found to be correlated with \ncognitive and behaviour problems as well as carer burden; \nwhereas it was negatively correlated with social support. \nAfter multiple linear regression analysis, caregiver burden \nwas the most significant factor contributing to caregiver \ndepression (β=0.55, T=5.43, p<0.001). Conclusions: This \ncohort of carers, having spent long hours caring for their \ndemented relatives had limited knowledge, poor perceived \nhealth and emotional problems. They had high burden \nand showed signs of depression. Caregiver depression \nwas found to be associated with a higher level of burden.
Authors: Ng, P, Shum, YW, Chan, O, Hung, A, Leung Wong, EKS, Chow, P, Lou, VW, Ho, JC, Wong, J, Cheung, M
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7055430268