Minimizing Burdens and Enhancing Quality of Life Among Family Caregivers of Patients with Substance Misuse Disorders

Abstract

Background: Substance misuse disorder is a chronic relapsing disorder that affects the patients and their family caregivers and management. It is associated with severe burdens in caring that decrease quality of life. Aim: This study aimed to minimize burdens and enhance the quality of life among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorders. Design: A quasi-experimental (single group pre/posttest) design included 128 caregivers who attend with their patients with substance misuse disorders during follow-up visits to the addiction outpatient clinic, Psychiatry center. It is affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Tools for data collection: 1) Caregiver's Interviewing Questionnaire, 2) Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS), 3) World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: There was a highly statistically significant relation regarding minimizing burdens among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder, in post phase p<0.001 as compared to the pre-program implementation phase including financial burden, disruption of routine family activities, disruption of family leisure, disruption of family interactions, effect on the physical and mental health of caregivers. Moreover, there were statistically significant positive correlations between types of burdens and quality of life domains mean score pre-and post-program implementation among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder under study. Conclusions: burdens among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder have been minimized post-program implementation as compared to the pre-program. Furthermore, minimizing burdens improved the quality-of-life domains postprogram implementation among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder under study. Recommendations: Designing and Implementing psychiatric nursing intervention programs for family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder in private and other governmental hospitals, in rural as well as urban communities to improve their quality of life.

A Path Analysis Model Examining Factors Affecting the Caregiving Burden Experienced by the Family Caregivers of Drug Addicts in Egypt

“… 13 , 15 Nevertheless, prior studies pointed out that the burden can be minimized after the implementation of a psychiatric nursing intervention program. 16 Drug addiction-related family burden is an explicit problem in developing countries where joint family and stronger familial bonds are more common patterns compared to Western countries. 12 Therefore, understanding the nature and predictors of caregiver burden has become necessary and serves as the basis for professional treatment and prevention interventions aiming at decreasing the caregivers’ burden and improving their physical and mental health, which in turn will positively affect the treatment and wellbeing of the addict.…”

Dealing with Loved Ones’ Addiction: Development of an App to Cope with Caregivers’ Stress

“…Substance misuse disorder is a disease that can impact not only the addicted person but also individual family members or a caregivers’ quality of life, devastatingly affecting the entire family system. For example, the burden among family caregivers of patients with substance misuse disorder has been described as a feeling of distress developed due to the presence of mental disorders in the family that assign responsibilities of patient care to one of the family members for many aspects of home, personal, and family life [ 8 , 9 ], leading to occupational dysfunction, frequent relapses, and frequent hospitalization of patients with substance misuse disorders. In addition, it leads to caregiver stress, forced retirement, role changes, role strain/overstrain load, distancing from friends and reduction of social activities, disruption of unusual routines, and financial pressure [ 9 , 10 ].…”

“…In addition, it adversely influences the emotional climate, identity, tasks, and family relationships by placing burdens that alter caregivers’ safety [ 13 ]. In addition, family members who live with drug-addicted patients are affected by incalculable losses such as financial instability and physical, psychological, and verbal violence that reduces the quality of life and constitute a burden for both the family and the drug user [ 9 , 14 ].…”