BURDEN, COPING STRATEGIES AND HEALTH RELATE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CAREGIVERS OF THE ELDERLY WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2015
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Abstract
This study assessed the pattern of chronic illness among the elderly attending care at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife. It also assessed the degree of burden experienced by their caregivers, the various coping strategies employed to mitigate the burden associated with caregiving as well as caregivers’ health related quality of life (HRQoL). This was with the view of contributing to knowledge on burden of care and HRQoL of caregivers of the elderly.
The study employed a descriptive design using both quantitative and qualitative data collections. It was conducted in Osun State. A purposive sampling technique was used in recruiting three hundred and twenty five elderly with chronic illness attending care in the hospital and their caregivers and were followed up to their home for data collection. Data were collected with the aid of six instruments: a checklist, Katz ADL, Zarit Burden Interview, SF-36 Health Survey; a Questionnaire adapted from Brief COPE Scale and an Interview Guide. Hospital records of seven hundred and eighty eight elderly were reviewed.Data collection spanned over a period of six months. The data were analysed using statistical techniques which include frequency count, chi square, logistic regression and correlation. Qualitative data were coded and analysed using NViVo.
Results revealed that the age of the elderly ranged from 60 to 99 years with a mean of 76.08±10.42.The prevailing chronic illnesses identified were; heart diseases, diabetes and stroke. The age of the caregivers ranged between 19 and 70 years with a mean of 47.79 (±11.94). Over 59% of care givers experienced severe burden while 40% were coping moderately. Similarly, the study showed that problem focused coping method was more utilised by caregivers than emotion focused coping. Coping strategies employed include (i) purchasing drugs from nearby chemist (ii) getting support from family and friends, (iii) spiritual support, (iv) societal norms and (v) Law of Karma. In measuring the HQRoL, respondents performed poorly in seven domains (Role limitation due to emotion – 19.69±30.46, Energy / fatigue – 43.7±16.46, Emotional wellbeing -45.86±13.93, Social functioning -49.09±18.46, Role limitation due to physical function- 43.33±10.15, Physical functioning – 13.16±18.17 and General health- 37.31±14.32) but had higher score in Pain (56.77±35.79). Furthermore, findings revealed that there is a positive correlation between caregivers’ burden and the following domains of HQRoL; general health (r = .342), emotional wellbeing (r = .222), physical functioning (r = .083). Similarly, there is a negative correlation between caregivers’ burden and social functioning (r = -.618), role limitation due to physical activities (r = .459), role limitation due to emotional wellbeing (r = -.530), energy /fatigue domains (r = -.509). Results further revealed a statistically significant relationship between coping strategies and (i) the religion of the caregivers (r .148, p = .008) and (ii) the relationship with the elderly (r = -.143, p = .010).
This study concluded that heart diseases were a major chronic illness among the elderly. The caregivers experience severe burden and had poor HQRoL. Coping strategies utilized by the caregivers were problem focused and emotion focused.
Description
xii, 141
Keywords
burden, health related issue, chronic illness, descriptive design, Health Survey, caregivers