Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan.
PLoS One. 2020 May 29;15(5):e0232787. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232787. eCollection 2020.
The prevalence of dementia has increased rapidly in Japan, while the proportion of the population accounted for by working-age individuals is facing a sharp decline. Optimizing the balance between work and caregiving for persons with dementia is a major public health issue.
Using a nationally representative sample, this study investigated the working status of caregivers (CGs) for elderly people (care recipients) with dementia (CRDs) and assessed the effects of sociodemographic factors on this status.
Data were obtained from the 2013 Comprehensive Survey of the Living Conditions for CRDs and CGs (the latter aged 65 years or less). Individual data of CRDs and CGs were linked, and 452 pairs were extracted. The Japanese version of the Kessler 6 (K6) with a cut-off point of 13 was used to assess general psychological distress among CGs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with the forward selection method was used to identify the predictors of their working status.
Overall, the mean age of CGs was 57.1 ± 6.8 years, with 57.5% (260/452) performing paid work. Male sex, higher educational attainment, and having their own house were associated with having paid work for CGs, while higher age, spending almost all day performing nursing care, and participation in helping with toilet activities and laundry were associated with not performing paid work.
Several sociodemographic factors, including nursing care-related factors, are associated with the employment status of CGs. Further research should examine detailed information on CRDs' activities of daily living, behavioral and psychological symptoms, medical service use, and social support to strengthen the system of supportive services for both CRDs and their CGs.
日本痴呆症的患病率迅速增加，而劳动年龄人口的比例却急剧下降。优化痴呆症患者的工作与护理之间的平衡是一个主要的公共卫生问题。
本研究使用全国代表性样本，调查了老年痴呆症（CRD）患者的护理人员（CG）的工作状况，并评估了社会人口因素对其工作状况的影响。
数据来自 2013 年对 CRD 和 CG （后者年龄在 65 岁以下）生活状况的综合调查。CRD 和 CG 的个人数据被链接，提取了 452 对。使用日本版 Kessler 6（K6）（分界值为 13）评估 CG 的一般心理困扰。采用向前选择法的多变量逻辑回归分析确定其工作状况的预测因素。
总体而言，CG 的平均年龄为 57.1±6.8 岁，57.5%（260/452）有薪工作。男性、较高的教育程度和拥有自己的房子与 CG 有薪工作有关，而较高的年龄、几乎整天从事护理工作、参与帮助上厕所和洗衣活动与没有薪工作有关。
包括护理相关因素在内的几个社会人口因素与 CG 的就业状况有关。进一步的研究应检查 CRD 的日常生活活动、行为和心理症状、医疗服务使用和社会支持的详细信息，以加强对 CRD 和 CG 的支持服务体系。
