Effect of Caregivers Home Health Care on Quality of Life of Patients with Brain Tumors

Abstract

Background: Brain tumors is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and results in significant increasing economic and social burden. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of caregivers' home health care on quality of life of patients with brain tumors. Research design: Quasi experimental design was used in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at home of brain tumor patients and their caregivers who were taken from a Neurosurgery Outpatient Clinic at Nasser Institute Hospital. Sample: Simple random sample was used in this study to choose 110 patients and their caregivers. Tools: Three tools used in this study. Tool I: Structured interviewing to assess socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers and studied patients, and Knowledge of caregivers about brain tumor and home health care. Tool II: Quality of life scale for patients with brain tumor. Tool III Observe caregivers' home health care practices among patients with brain tumor. Result: 54.5 % of the studied caregivers aged ≥40 years, 80 % were female, 44.5 % had secondary education, 15.5% of the studied caregivers had good total knowledge level at preprogram which increased to 59.1% post home health care program implementation. 18.2 % of the studied patients had high level of total quality of life at preprogram while increased to 61.8 % post program implementation. 40% of the studied caregivers had satisfactory home health care practices regarding their patients with brain tumors pre home health care program, while this percentage increased to 82.7% post home health care program implementation. Conclusion: Caregivers' home health care successed in improving caregivers' knowledge and practices which is reflected on improving quality of life patients with brain tumor (p<0.001). Recommendation: Continuous home health care programs for caregivers to improve their knowledge and practices about brain tumor patients.