Factors affecting the quality of life of Han Chinese and Korean Chinese caregivers engaged in the long-term care of elderly family in Jilin Province, China
10.14442/generalist.37.225
- VernacularTitle:老老介護世帯における主介護者の生活の質に関連する要因
- Author:
Liying Pei
;
Junko Okuno
;
Kazushi Hotta
;
Takako Fukasaku
;
Kaizen Ken
;
Hisako Yanagi
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
China;
Ro-ro kaigo;
ethnicity;
quality of life
- From:An Official Journal of the Japan Primary Care Association
2014;37(3):225-232
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Introduction : In recent years, aging of the population and the low birth rate are progressing rapidly in China, resulting in an increase in the number of elderly individuals engaged in the long-term care of an elderly family member (Jap. “Ro-ro kaigo”). We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the current Ro-ro kaigo situation and the factors related to the quality of life of the caregivers in two ethnic groups : Han Chinese and Korean Chinese.
Methods : Fifty-one Korean Chinese households and sixty-one Han Chinese households (≥60 years old) in Changchun or Yanji of Jilin Province, China, participated. The quality of life of the caregivers was measured using the SF-8 health survey questionnaire. We conducted a multiple regression analysis to investigate the factors related to the caregivers' quality of life.
Results : There was no significant difference in gender ratio and caregiver age between the two ethnic groups. In both groups, a spouse was often the cargiver. Factors related to the caregivers' quality of physical life were as follows. For the Korean Chinese : the caregivers' subjective feeling of health, and the number of the caregivers' diseases ; for the Han Chinese : the caregivers' subjective feeling of health, the care period, and the frequency of participation in community activities. Factors related to the caregivers' quality of the mental life were as follows. For the Korean Chinese : the frequency of consultation for nursing-care problems ; for the Han Chinese : the care-recipients' educational history, and having assistance on ceremonial occasions.
Conclusion : The results suggest that good health is important to maintain the quality of physical life of elderly caregivers in both ethnic groups. As factors related to the physical and mental summary scores differed by ethnicity, support for the caregivers that considers their ethnic background is necessary.
