Most people with stroke are being cared for at home by family caregivers. Giving care is stressful, and family caregivers are predisposed to care-related complications such as life changes and depression. This article is a report of a study that examined the relationship between the perceived care-related life changes and depression in family caregivers of people with stroke, and it identified predictors influencing depression and perceived care-related life changes. A convenience sample of 60 family caregivers completed one demographic data sheet and two questionnaires: Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were collected in a 1-month period in 2008. According to the findings, the mean score of the subjects on the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale was -5.70, representing an overall negative change related to the caregiving role. The prevalence of people at a risk of depression or being depressed was 40%. Correlation analysis showed that, as perceived life changes score decreases (change for the worst), the score for the feeling of depression increases (r = -.692, p ≤ .001). Stroke survivors' functional disability significantly predicted both perceived care-related life changes and depression in caregivers. Assessment of caregivers of people with stroke for depressive symptoms should be incorporated in the initial nursing assessment process. The perceived life changes among caregivers should be closely monitored, and follow-up meetings should be planned to support caregivers. The functional disability in people with stroke could be a valuable criterion for planning care for their caregivers.
Background and purpose
Cancer is the world’s second greatest cause of mortality and a leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. Patients employ a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to deal with the problems and difficulties of cancer, which can have an impact on their quality of life (QOL). The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between QOL and the use of different CAM methods in terminally ill cancer patients.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study. In southern Iran, 238 individuals with advanced cancer were studied in oncology centers and doctors’ offices. During the months of January to August 2021, patients were selected using convenience sampling. A demographic information questionnaire, the EORTC core quality of life questionnaire, and the CAM questionnaire were used to collect data.
Results
The results showed that terminally ill cancer patients had a good quality of life. Last year, 85.7% of participants used at least one kind of CAM. Furthermore, 45.4% of participants used only one form of CAM, 30.3% used two types of CAM, 6.7% used three types of CAM, and 3.4% used four to five types of CAM. When all CAM users were compared to non-CAM users, CAM users had significantly higher social QOL and overall quality of life. Two subscales of QOL symptoms and function were correlated with cancer history, income, and use of CAMs, and the scores of QOL symptoms and function were greater in CAM users compared to non-CAM users. Among all the study variables, only the usage of CAM was correlated to overall QOL among terminally ill cancer patients.
Conclusion
The current study found that using CAM could affect different aspects of QOL in terminally ill cancer patients. As a result, it is feasible that using CAM could help these people enhance their health and QOL.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.