To Assess the Quality of Life (QOL) of Caregivers and Patients Suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Abstract

Rationale: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with physical and psychological burdens. The impact of disease has been studied on patients but it also has a profound and pervasive effect on family and friends resulting in psychological strain, social isolation, relationship strains and financial strains from the added responsibilities of managing the patients. Few studies have found a significant burden on both caregivers and patients alike, but the data from the Indian setup in lacking. Hence, we designed this study to assess the Quality of Life (QOL) of caregivers and patients suffering from COPD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with forty-six COPD patients and their primary caregivers. Patients were assessed with St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and WHO-QOL-Bref scores. The caregivers were divided into two groups. Group 1 volunteers were caregivers of patients recently diagnosed with COPD (Last 1 year), whereas Group 2 were caregivers of patients with COPD diagnosed more than 1 year back. The caregivers in both the groups were subjected to Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and WHO-QOL-Bref scores. Results: 46 patients and caregivers were enrolled in the study. Majority of patients were over the age of 50 years (55.67 ± 12.45), and 67% caregivers were females. Patients had poor QOL as per SGRQ. The caregivers in Group 1 had significantly lower (p < 0.05) burden as compared to Group 2 as evident by ZBI scores. The WHO-QOL-Bref scores in all the 4 domains were significantly higher in Group 1 which predicts a better quality of life. Conclusion: COPD takes a toll not only on the patient but also the caregiver of the patients. The amount of burden increases as the disease progress with worsening quality of life.

Relationship between Caregiver’s Quality of Life and Childhood Tuberculosis in Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria

“…Majority of the caregivers in both groups were males (63.8% and 57.4%). This finding contrasts with similar studies that showed a majority of the caregivers of children with chronic diseases to be females [27] [28]. Furthermore, majority of the caregivers in both groups The overall QOL for respondents whose children do not have TB appears to be higher (mean 7.87 and SD 1.84) compared with respondents whose children have TB (mean 6.85 and SD 1.37).…”

“…These findings suggest that respondents whose children have TB have impaired QOL compared with those whose children do not have TB. This is consistent with the findings of several studies that measured the QOL of adult caregivers whose children suffered from chronic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta [27], sickle cell disease [31], cancer [32] [33], disabilities, Down's syndrome [34], speech and language disorders [35], COPD [28], and schizophrenia [36]. All these studies revealed that the caregivers of the diseased children had impaired QOL compared with control populations.…”

Subjective Burden on Family Carers of Hemodialysis Patients

“…Moreover caring for patients with chronic and disabling disease is associated with the caregivers' experiencing physical and psychological distress, limitations to their personal and social activities, and financial burden [5]. Especially the experience of a wife caregiver has been described as a mixture of anger, helplessness, guilt and isolation and was deemed to have lost freedom, because they had relinquished recreational and social activities [6].…”

Resilience as a concept for understanding family caregiving of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): an integrative review

“…Family caregiving refers to unpaid relatives or friends of a disabled individual who help that individual with his or her activities of daily living. The words may be prefixed with ‘family’ ‘spousal’, ‘child’, ‘parent’, ‘young’ or ‘adult’ (Kumar, Matreja, Gupta, Singh, & Garg, ).…”