The Capacity and Quality of Life of Caregivers Caring for Patients Who need Long-term Care in Huaykoeng Hospital, Udonthani Province

Abstract

This research was aimed to evaluate the capacity and quality of life of caregivers caring for patients who need long-term care in Huaykoeng hospital, Udonthani province. 78 samples were composed of 24 volunteers, 54 family members and in-depth interviewed 8 caregivers who have been caregivers at least 1 year. Collected data during June to July 2017, by using demographic and satisfaction questionnaires (alpha 0.87), quality of life (WHOQOL– BREF- Thai) assessment (alpha 0.94), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Thai HADS) assessment (alpha 0.85). The statistical data analysis was conducted by using the descriptive statistics, the multinomial logistic regression and content of Induction analysis.
The results: Most of caregivers (volunteers and family member group) were female (70.8%, 75.9%), mean ages 42 (SD 2.0) and 51 (SD 6.8) years old, having their capacity at high level (mean 39.50 SD 11.28 and 44.01 SD 11.28), Average score of quality service (mean 29.20 SD 8.7 and 27.2 SD 6.8), average score of quality of life (mean 93.31 SD 12.0 and 85.01 SD 16.8) there were physical sign (mean 25.20 SD 2.0 and 24.70 SD 6.8 respectively), mental sign (mean 27.70 SD 2.0 and 22.14 SD 6.8), social sign (mean 10.91 SD 2.0 and 10.20 SD 6.8) and environment sign (mean 29.50 SD 2.0 and 27.66 SD 6.8 respectively). Overall of anxiety of caregivers (volunteers and family members) was at moderate level (87.5% and 87.0%), overall depression was moderate level (66.7% and 68.5%), overall of caregiver satisfaction was high level (83.3% and 79.6%). Factors influence to caregiver’s quality of life had statistically signifcant were as follows support of Thai traditional medicine (adj.OR= 19.18, 95% CI: 0.29-0.36), support of nurses (adj.OR: 2.82, 95%CI: 0.78-0.92), capacity’s role (adj.OR: 2.50, 95%CI: 0.69-0.90), gender (adj.OR: 1.88, 95%CI: 0.45-0.86), anxiety (adj.OR: 1.85, 95%CI: 0.32-0.54) and age (adj.OR: 1.08, 95%CI: 0.30-0.35), factors impede the quality of life were as follows working (adj.OR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.14-0.77), Potential’s caregivers (adj.OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.18-0.31) and depression (adj.OR: 0.34, 95%CI: 0.01-0.05). From indepth interview, caregivers would like to fve needs: 1) government or Ministry of public health should defne health policy for caregiver and the laws related to social services, 2) health provincial government to encourage people to prepare themselves fnancially before old age, 3) need the assistance in any activity from the nurse, 4) health promoting for caregiver, determine of salaries, allowances and development of potential for advancement and 5) local government organization and community network to establish group club of health support for long term patients.
Conclusion: these fndings illustrate the capacity and quality of life of caregivers could be increased the capacity’s caregivers that signifcantly.