Comparison between Perception of Dementia Patients' and Caregivers' Assessment on Patients' Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life

치매노인의 불안, 우울, 삶의 질에 대한 치매노인의 주관적 측정과 간병인의 측정간의 차이 연구

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to examine the difference between scores assigned by dementia patients and their caregivers to the patients' anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Methods: After obtaining Institutional Review Board(IRB) approval, face-to-face interview with the patients and their caregivers respectively was conducted by trained graduate-level nursing students from December 2007 to February 2008. Patients' anxiety, depression, and quality of life were measured by patients and their caregivers. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and Pearson's correlation. Results: Significant relationships were reported between the depression rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(r = .37, p = .019). In addition, there was no difference between the quality of life rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(t = -7.11, p = .479). However, there was no significant relationship between the anxiety rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(r = .21, p = .195). Conclusion: There were no differences on level of depression and quality of life of dementia patients measured by dementia patients and caregivers, However, dementia patients' anxiety level has discrepancy between them.