Being + Doing & Becoming Occupational Research Group (B+D+b), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain.
Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain.
BMC Geriatr. 2024 Nov 6;24(1):917. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05518-9.
Occupational balance (OB) has been associated with health indicators in informal caregivers (CGs) such as well-being and subjective health. Consequently, maintaining an adequate OB could be crucial to providing adequate care without becoming overwhelmed, converting the condition of caregivers into an important aspect of public health as the ageing population increases. However, little is known about the factors influencing OB in CGs. Thus, this study aimed to explore the associated factors with the OB in CGs of persons with dementia.
We cross-sectionally analysed data from 134 CGs and the individuals with dementia. We assessed CGs' OB using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ). Simultaneously, several sociodemographic, clinical, and caregiving-related variables including CGs' burden and psychological distress were assessed. The association between the CGs' OB and those factors was explored through robust multiple linear regression.
Firstly, CGs that presented secondary education exhibited a decrement of 5.41 (CI95% = -10.62, -0.41; p-value = 0.03) OB points. Moreover, CGs with higher education experienced a more pronounced OB reduction (β = -7.74; 95%CI = -12.19, -3.29; p-value = < 0.001). Secondly, those CGs that were retired showed an OB increment of 5.52 (CI95% = 1.14, 9.38; p-value = 0.01). Thirdly, receiving assistance with household chores was associated with an OB increase of 5.80 (CI95% = 2.21, 9.38; p-value = 0.001). Fourthly, and regarding clinical measures, CGs experiencing overload or psychological distress were associated with an OB points decrement of 7.87 (CI95% = -12.51, -3.23; p-value = 0.001) and 9.17 (CI95% =-13.51, -4.84; p-value < 0.001), respectively. Finally, 1% increment in the Disability Assessment for Dementia obtained from the individuals with dementia was associated with an increment of 0.11 (CI95% = 0.04, 0.18; p-value = 0.002) OB points.
This study identified several associated factors with the OB of CGs of persons with dementia. Specifically, we remarked that the CGs' education, employment status, household chores assistance, overload presence, psychological distress symptoms and the functional level of the person with dementia who cared for were important variables that should be considered when evaluating OB or creating OB-related interventions in CGs.
职业平衡（OB）与非正式照护者（CGs）的健康指标有关，例如幸福感和主观健康。因此，保持足够的 OB 对于在不不堪重负的情况下提供适当的护理可能至关重要，随着人口老龄化，将照护者的状况转化为公共卫生的一个重要方面。然而，人们对影响 CGs 的 OB 的因素知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在探讨与痴呆症患者 CGs 的 OB 相关的因素。
我们对 134 名 CGs 和痴呆症患者进行了横断面数据分析。我们使用职业平衡问卷（OBQ）评估 CGs 的 OB。同时，评估了包括 CGs 的负担和心理困扰在内的几个社会人口学、临床和照护相关变量。通过稳健的多元线性回归探索 CGs 的 OB 与这些因素之间的关联。
首先，具有中学教育背景的 CGs 的 OB 下降了 5.41 分（95%CI = -10.62，-0.41；p 值 = 0.03）。此外，具有较高教育水平的 CGs 经历了更明显的 OB 降低（β = -7.74；95%CI = -12.19，-3.29；p 值 = <0.001）。其次，退休的 CGs 的 OB 增加了 5.52 分（95%CI = 1.14，9.38；p 值 = 0.01）。第三，接受家务帮助与 OB 增加 5.80 分相关（95%CI = 2.21，9.38；p 值 = 0.001）。第四，就临床措施而言，经历过载或心理困扰的 CGs 的 OB 下降了 7.87 分（95%CI = -12.51，-3.23；p 值 = 0.001）和 9.17 分（95%CI = -13.51，-4.84；p 值 <0.001）。最后，从痴呆症患者那里获得的痴呆症评估残疾程度增加 1%，与 OB 增加 0.11 分相关（95%CI = 0.04，0.18；p 值 = 0.002）。
本研究确定了与痴呆症患者 CGs 的 OB 相关的几个因素。具体来说，我们注意到 CGs 的教育、就业状况、家务帮助、过载状态、心理困扰症状以及他们照顾的痴呆症患者的功能水平是在评估 CGs 的 OB 或创建与 OB 相关的干预措施时应考虑的重要变量。
