Relationship between the quality of formal care and family caregivers' positive and negative aspects of caregiving for older patients with chronic conditions.

AIM

As the number of older adult patients with chronic conditions continues to rise, assessing the psychological aspects of family caregivers is crucial. However, the relationship between the quality of formal care provided by multidisciplinary teams and family caregivers' aspects of caregiving remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether the quality of formal care is associated with both positive and negative aspects of caregiving, as perceived by family caregivers.

METHODS

This multicenter cross-sectional study surveyed family caregivers (aged ≥20 years) of older adult patients (aged ≥65 years) receiving home or outpatient care from non-bed clinics in Japan's Kanto region. Formal care quality was evaluated using the Japanese version of the Caregivers' Experience Instrument (J-IEXPAC CAREGIVERS). Primary outcomes were positive (Positive Aspects of Caregiving: 0-100) and negative (Negative Aspects of Caregiving: 0-100) caregiving aspects. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders, and missing data were handled using multiple imputations.

RESULTS

This study included 251 participants. Higher J-IEXPAC CAREGIVERS scores were significantly associated with increased Positive Aspects of Caregiving scores in a dose-response manner, with regression coefficients of 7.0 (P = 0.014), 12.8 (P < 0.001) and 19.7 (P < 0.001) for the second quartile (Q2), third quartile (Q3) and fourth quartile (Q4) compared with the first quartile (Q1), respectively. Negative Aspects of Caregiving scores were significantly lower in Q4 compared with Q1, with a coefficient of -7.3 (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher-quality formal care was associated with more positive and fewer negative caregiving aspects. Improving formal care quality might enhance family caregivers' perceptions of caregiving. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 749-757.