The Determinants of Quality of Life in Thai Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

Abstract

Objective: Stroke survivors suffer from multiple health problems, leading to physical and psychological impairments or disabilities. Largely, family caregivers encounter stressful situations when providing stroke care at home, however, little is known about their quality of life (QOL) and its determinants. This study aimed to identify the determinants of QOL among Thai family caregivers of stroke survivors. Methods: The sample consisted of stroke caregivers from two tertiary hospitals in the central region of Thailand. Data collection using a set of questionnaires was performed at the outpatient department of each hospital. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and path analysis to examine the hypothesized relationship between the study variables and QOL. Results: A total of 300 stroke caregivers were recruited. Their age ranged from 20-84 years old, and mostly were female (76%). Determinants of QOL among family caregivers were caregivers' age, caregivers' income and care burden. Care burden was the strongest predictor which explained 64 % of the total variance (p < .001). Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors impact on QOL among Thai family caregivers of stroke survivors. Caregivers' burden remains a serious issue, especially for those at an advanced age with low income who provide the care for severely dependent stroke survivors. Therefore, nurses and health care team should be aware of these determinants and develop a family intervention program to support them so as to improve their QOL.