Psychiatric morbidity and quality of life among family caregivers of hospice patients with cancer: a home based community preliminary study
- Author:
Osman Che Bakar
;
Eizwan Hamdie Yusoff
;
Ainsah Omar
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
psychiatric morbidity, quality of life, hospice, Malaysia
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry
2007;8(1):78-84
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: This descriptive cross-section, community-based study examined the prevalence of
psychiatric morbidity and quality of life (QOL) and the associated factors among family caregivers
of hospice patients with cancer. Methods: Subjects were 50 family caregivers of cancer
patients under the care of Hospice Malaysia homecare. Home visits were done in Klang Valley.
Psychiatric morbidity was detected using GHQ-30 English and Bahasa Malaysia versions,
and the QOL was assessed by the Short Form 36 items (SF-36) questionnaire. Results:
The study results showed that 54% of respondents had psychiatric morbidity. The educational
status and the relationship between family caregivers and the cancer patients were statistically
significant (p<0.05) associated with psychiatric morbidity. Among the respondents, scores of
all domains of QOL were lower than those of the general Malaysian population. There were
statistically significant associations between the relationship of family caregivers and cancer
patients, as well as bodily pain and mental health domains (p<0.05) and between gender and
social functioning domains (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that caregivers of
cancer patients are at risk for psychiatric illnesses and low QOL.
