A Survey on the Status Quo and Influencing Factors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

This study examined the current state of health-related quality of life among family caregivers of elderly individuals with dementia, analyzing associated influencing factors to provide a foundation for enhancing their health-related quality of life and developing pertinent intervention strategies and measures.

METHODS

From September 2023 to February 2024, a convenient sampling method was used to investigate the status quo of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among family caregivers for dementia patients, family caregivers for non-dementia patients, and people with no caregiving burdens in Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou in southwest China. The risk factors were analyzed by multiple regression.

RESULTS

A total of 678 questionnaires were distributed, and 630 valid questionnaires were obtained, resulting in a response rate of 92.92%. The study found that family caregivers for elderly individuals with dementia exhibited the lowest scores in both physical and mental health, followed by family caregivers for elderly individuals without dementia, while people with no caregiving burdens scored the highest. The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, chronic disease, the relationship between the family caregiver and the person being cared for were dependent of physiological health scores. While females, caregivers with secondary-education, and caregivers with a chronic disease showed poorer mental health scores.

CONCLUSION

We need to focus on the role that family caregivers for dementia patients play in the health and quality of life of older people with dementia. Therefore, we should pay more attention to the physical and mental health of family caregivers for dementia patients and ensure that this should be taken into consideration in policy-making, which will contribute to a better quality of life for theses caregivers.