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Kim, Shin, Min, Kim, and Kim: Correlation between Severe ALS Patient-Caregiver Couples' Characteristics and Caregivers' Health Related Quality of Life
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011; 41(3): 354-363.

Published online: 13 June 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.3.354

Correlation between Severe ALS Patient-Caregiver Couples' Characteristics and Caregivers' Health Related Quality of Life

Myoung Soo Kim1, Hyung-Ik Shin2, Yusun Min3, Jung Yoon Kim4, Jung Soon Kim5

1Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea.

2Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

3Clinical Instructor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

4Clinical Instructor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

5Professor, College of Nursing, Pusan National University College of Nursing, Yangsan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Myoung Soo. Department of Nursing, Pukyong National University, 599-1 Daeyeon 3-dong, Nam-gu, Busan 608-737, Korea. Tel: +82-51-629-5782, Fax: +82-51-629-5789, kanosa@pknu.ac.kr

Received 24 November 2010       Accepted 7 June 2011

© 2011 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between characteristics of severe ALS patient-caregiver couples and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in family caregivers.

Methods

The participants in this study were 89 pairs of ALS patients using ventilators and a family caregiver. The characteristics of the ALS patients and caregivers, Korean-Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised, Zarit Burden Interview and SF-36 were measured in this study. The data were collected from August 2008 to April 2009. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and canonical correlation were used for data analysis.

Results

The physical component summary and mental component summary of the HRQoL score for family caregivers were 147.49±31.63 and 129.09±35.83, respectively. HRQoL for caregivers was related to characteristics of the ALS patient-caregiver couples, such as patient's gender, caregiver's age, gender, marital status, daily time spent in caregiving and burden with one significant canonical variable. The significant variate showed that the lower the age, the time spent in caregiving and the burden of caregivers, the higher the HRQoL of caregivers.

Conclusion

The support systems for caregivers considering caregiver characteristics such as demographics and burden should be implemented to improve the HRQoL of caregivers.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Quality of life, Ventilator, Caregivers

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Characteristics of ALS Patients and Caregivers (N=89)
jkan-41-354-i001
Table 2
Descriptive Statistics for Study Variables (N=89)
jkan-41-354-i002

PCS=physical component summary; MCS=mental component summary; PF=physical functioning; RP=role limitations due to physical health problems; BP=bodily pain; GH=general health; VT=vitality; SF=social functioning; RE=role limitations due to emotional problems; MH=mental health.

Table 3
Correlation among Care-related Characteristics and Caregivers' HRQoL (N=89)
jkan-41-354-i003

PCS=physical component summary; MCS=mental component summary; YVU=years since starting to use ventilator; TSC=time spent caregiving; HRQoL=health related quality of life.

Table 4
Canonical Correlation between Care-related Characteristics and Caregivers' HRQoL (N=89)
jkan-41-354-i004

HRQoL=health related quality of life; PCS=physical component summary; MCS=mental component summary.

Notes

This work was supported by research funds from Pukyong National University.

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