• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.615-626
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate caregiver burden and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among male spouses who cared for partners with a stroke. Methods: The subjects were spouses of 121 female patients who visited the neurology outpatients department in one tertiary hospital located in Seoul between February and April in 2011. Results: The mean age of the male caregivers was $71.25{\pm}5.51$ years. The mean score of caregiver's burden was moderate ($63.28{\pm}9.85$). The average reported caregiving time was $58.48{\pm}5.51$ min/day with the male spouses spending more time in house-working than with caregiving activities. The reported depression and care giving time, plus the cognitive status and functional dependencies of the spouse were significantly related to male caregiver's burden. The mean scores of 'physical health' and 'mental health' for quality of life for the male caregivers was moderate (47.49 and 47.33 respectively). Overall, caregiver's burden has a negative effect on the HRQoL of male spouses. Conclusion: Caregiver's burden and HRQoL are important problems which are in need of nurses' attention. It is suggested that intervention programs for male spouses be developed with a focus on emotional and social support as well as education about the caregiving role.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2002

During acute stages of hospitalized stroke patients, family caregivers face many challenges. They often experience emotional distress, social isolation, and financial constraints. However, the burden of caregiving of stroke patients in acute stages has never been studied properly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the caregivers' burden with acute stroke. The subjects were 123 acute stroke patients and their caregivers who were admitted to neurology and neurosurgery units at Dan Kook University Hospital in Chung-Nam area. An interview was performed with the use of standardized questionnaire which included data pertaining to the patients/caregivers characteristics, caregiver burden (Modified Zarit's Burden Scale), and social support (Personal Resource Questionnaire). Our results showed that the mean burden score was 3.11, indicating high level of burden. Among the sub-domain scores, financial burden was the highest. In univariate analysis, the factors related to caregiver burdens were: inability to communicate between patients and caregiver(p<.001); low cognitive function of the patients(p<.001); low level of ADL(p<.001); the gender of caregiver(p<.001); the current employment status of caregivers(p<.01); the presence of social support for caregiver(p<.001); and the availability of alternative caregivers(p<.001). In multiple regression analysis, social support for family caregivers (87%), low level of patient's cognition (2%), availability of 2nd caregiver (1%), and gender of caregiver (female, 0.4%) were significant explanatory factors of overall burden. The caregivers' burden in acute stages during hospitalization following stroke was high. Recognition of high levels of caregivers' burden and those relating factors affecting caregiver burden may allow us to develop different nursing strategies to unload the level of burden for caregivers in acute stages of stroke.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.78-97
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• 2009

This study examined the factors related to family caregiver satisfaction with institutional care services for beneficiaries under the Public Long-Term Care Insurance(PLTCI) system. Determining what contributes to family caregiver satisfaction is a critical step toward implementing effective quality improvement strategies. A national cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from November to December 2008, using proportionate quota sampling based on the location and level of Long-Term Care of the beneficiaries. Total 1,745 family caregivers wrote informed consents and 733 (response rate 42%) completed questionnaires, which included caregiver characteristics, organizational resources, primary objective and subjective stressors, perceived quality of services, and family caregiver satisfaction. Family caregivers were satisfied overall with institutional care. In multiple regression analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in degree of family caregiver satisfaction according to caregiver characteristics(relationship to beneficiary), primary objective stressors (insurance type of beneficiary), perceived quality of services(respect to family caregivers' idea, ADL support, expertness of staff, careful concern of staff, fulfillment of client's requests, and safety of institution's environment). In public long-term care, satisfaction efforts are in an early stage of development. This study is meaningful as the first attempt to measure family caregiver satisfaction with institutional care for beneficiaries under the PLTCI system, and to identify factors affecting the satisfaction. Among the identified factors, the policy makers, the insurer, and the providers need to pay attention to perceived quality of services, in particular, to improve customer satisfaction. Our findings can provide quality care improvement initiatives in the public long-term care setting.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2016

In this study, We tried to investigate the relationship between the Caregiver's Autonomy of duty and the Their innovation action at the present situation of awareness diffusion of caregiver's job autonomy and rapid aging increasing. We analyzed the factors effected to the innovative action by the caregiver's job autonomy and demographic factor, to the caregivers who work in Seoul. As a result of the analysis, it was found the factors that effect to innovation action statistically and significantly are job autonomy, work schedule, decision-making, methodology, age, education, type of facility, scale of facility and job title. In other words, the organization tries to invest enough job autonomy to caregiver in their environment and the organizational culture tries to encourage new idea is induct positive effect to the innovative action. In this regards, the principal requires ability to create environment that the caregivers can suggest new idea, and develop the management strategy to improve caregiver's job autonomy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2007

Purpose. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor disabilities and increasing dependence on others for daily life activities with consequent impact on patients' and caregivers' quality of life. The aim of this study was to elucidate the burden on primary caregivers of patients with PD, and identify related factors. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study. Seventy-six primary caregivers of PD patients in a neurology out-patient clinic, Seoul, Korea completed structured questionnaires, of which 68 were analyzed. The structured self-report questionnaire included (1) demographic information on the caregivers, (2) information regarding the disease characteristics of the patients, and (3) the subjective and objective caregiver burdens as assessed on Montgomery, Gonyea, & Hooyman's scale. Results. The mean age of the caregivers was 54.56 years, and spouses represented the largest proportion (47.0%). Caregivers of PD patients experienced high levels of burden (mean scores on the subjective and objective burdens were 45.22 and 34.90, respectively), which were comparable to the caregiver burdens in stroke, and higher than the caregiver burdens in general chronic disease. Older caregivers and spousal caregivers experienced significantly higher burdens (p=.004 and p=.019, respectively). A greater motor disability and higher modified Hoehn and Yahr grade were related to higher caregiver burden (p=.001 and p=.018, respectively). Conclusion. Caring for PD patients is associated with a high level of caregiver burden. Therefore, healthcare professionals should identify the burden of caregivers who look after PD patients and develop comprehensive management strategies both for patients and their caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2010

The purpose of the study was to examine the actual conditions of caregiver-infant ratios, group-room activity areas, evaluations of infant programs and caregiver-infant interactions based on structural and process indicators which are major factors of infant care. The subjects were 20 caregivers and 91 infants from 14 infant classes of 13 day care centers in Daejeon. An actual survey was conducted on caregiver-infant ratios and group-room activity areas, and teaching-learning plans for infants and daily schedules were gathered for the evaluation of infant programs. The caregiver-infant interactions were observed every one minute for a total of 20 minutes using Lee Wan Jeong's "Evaluation Measure of Caregiver-infant Interactions"(1999). The results of this study were as follows: First, caregiver-infant ratios ranged from 2.5 to 7 infants per caregiver, resulting in the difference of the number of infants. Second, the 14 classes for one-year-old infants were arranged in three different ways; 5 classrooms with distinctive activity areas, 2 without any divided areas and 7 containing a mix of partial activity areas. Third, in teaching-learning plans for infants, there were a large number of topics related to seasonal features and experiences while the fewest were about basic life habits. Fourth, in the caregiver-infant interactions, caregivers used more positive interactions and linguistic modeling than sensitive responses to infants and social interactions.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 2016

This is a descriptive study that introduces programs that support family caregivers looking after the elderly, by focusing on the case of Georgia, in the United States. The U.S. is one of the few countries that support family caregivers by law. In this study, we focus on the evidence-based interventions implemented through the Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP), a federal policy that complements the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Our findings show that one-on-one evidence-based programs (EBPs) for family caregivers are both economical and effective in assisting caregivers. In our discussion, we highlight how the implementation of the latest EBPs can build an infrastructure to support family caregivers. ADSSP funding is useful as it constructs a caregiver support through the implementation of programs in the local community. The result is the creation of a well-coordinated division of labor among government agencies, academia and NGOs, which produces a synergetic effect in funding, research and development, translation and implementation of programs, and staff training. We conclude that the implementation of EBPs funded by the government is a useful reference for Korea and other rapidly aging countries, if we are to create an infrastructure for caregiver support, which can effectively prevent a crisis in caregiving.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate QOL and the factors related to family caregivers who care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods: The subjects were 83 family caregivers caring for ALS patients who visited the neurology outpatient section of a tertiary hospital located in Seoul between January and July of 2008. Their demographic characteristics were assessed and data were collected using the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS), the caregiver burden inventory (CBI), HADS, and SF-36. Results: The mean score of the physical health component (PHC) of the family caregiver's QOL was $62.6{\pm}24.4$, and the mean score of the mental health component (MHC) of their QOL was $57.7{\pm}22.4$. The mean score of caregiver burden was $76.5{\pm}30.7$. Anxious family caregivers amounted to 55.4% and depressed family caregivers accounted for 63.9% overall. In a multivariate analysis, the PHC of QOL was explained by caregiver burden (41.1%), depression (9.4%), caregiver gender (3.8%), and caregiver age (3.1%). Anxiety (39.8%), caregiver burden (10.9%), patient gender (5.4%) and depression (1.7%) were predictive factors of the MHC of QOL. Conclusion: Caregiver burden and depression affected both the PHC and the MHC. Caregiver burden affected the PHC more than it did the MHC of QOL, but anxiety affected the MHC more than it did the PHC of QOL.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.367-387
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• 2012

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of psychological factors on caregiver burden and depression among Korean spousal caregivers. 142 spousal caregivers (89 wives, 52 husbands) in Seoul and Incheon City were surveyed to determine the influence of objective factors of the care recipient, demographic of the caregiver, personality dimensions of extroversion and neuroticism of caregiver, social support, and pre-caregiving marital satisfaction on caregiver burden and depression of spousal caregivers. Hierarchical regression was used to determine the influence of the various factors on caregiver burden and depression. Finding suggest that care recipient's activities of daily living(ADL) and caregiver neuroticism predicted caregiver burden, whereas pre-caregiving martial satisfaction and caregiver neuroticism predicted depression. In particular, psychological factors were better predictors of caregiver burden and depression compared with objective factors. Based on the results, the implications, interventions, limitations and future directions for research were discussed about the psychological factors on spousal caregiving.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.372-386
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to explore the degree of stress in caregivers caring for CVA patients and the level of daily living performance of CVA patients. The subjects for the study were caregivers of 112 CVA patients who enter a hospital or out-patient-department (OPD) at two Oriental medical hospital in Jeonbuk province. The survey instruments used in this study were Kang's ADL check list for daily living performance of patients and Choi's 4 sore scale for stress of caregivers. The survey was conducted from July 4th to August 30th in 1999. The survey results were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) program and can be summarized as follows: 1. The level of daily living performance for the CVA patients was: 1) complete dependence (M=14.9, 13.1%), 2) complete independence (M=23.6, 20.9%), 3) incomplete independence (M=23.9, 21.0%), 4) incomplete dependence (M=26.6, 25%), 5) dependence and independence (M=23.0, 20.0%). The items for with there was a high level daily living performance were: 1) drinking (M=3.62), 2) eating(M=3.25). 3) position returning (M=3.18) : and the items for which there was a low level of daily living performance were: 1) ascending and descending stairs (M=2.08), 2) walking (M=2.47), 3) dressing and undressing trousers (M=2.55). 2. Degree of caregiver stress was: Mean=2.39 at 40 score. The items for which was a high level caregiver stress were: 1) medical fee (M=3.25), 2) being handicapped or recurrence (M=3.02) : and the items for which there was a low level of caregiver stress were: 1) discontinuity of patient's treatment (M = 1.98). 2) change of home atmosphere caused by patient's disease (M = 1.98), 3) desire of patient's knowing about disease (M= 1.99). 3. There was statistically significant difference in the degree of caregiver stress according to the following caregiver's demographic characteristics: education level (F=3.52, P=0.03). change of caregiver (F=5.41. P=0.02). 4. There was a statistically signifiant difference in the level of daily living performance according to the CVA patients demographic characteristics: patient's paralytic status (F=4.48, P=0.01), duration of disease (t=2.76, P=0.03). 5. There was significant difference in degree of caregiver stress according to the CVA patient's demographic characteristics: CVA status (F=4.75, P=0.01). 6. There was statistically significant difference in the degree of caregiver stress according to the level of daily living performance in CVA patients(r=-0.482, P<0.00).