Stress and Quality of Life Caregivers of Elderly in Lao Phatthana Sub-District Health Promotion Hospital Na Wa District, Nakhon Phanom

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to study the factors associated with stress and quality of life of elderly caregivers under the authority of Lao Phatthana health promoting hospital, Na Wa district, Nakhon Phanom province. Samples were 199 caregivers selected by systematic sampling. Questionnaires in terms of Suanprung Stress Test-20 (SPST-20) and WHO Quality of Life assessment were used to collect the data which validity and reliability of the questionnaires had been proved by the experts and the formula of Kuder – Richardson-20 (0.69). Data were analyzed in terms of descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.

The results showed that there were several factors linked to age, educational level, occupation, average caregiver's income per month and stress levels that significantly associated with quality of life of the elderly caregivers.

Therefore, local governments and elderly health related-organizations should continuously provide supporting quality of life activities to, help for finding jobs for living and improve health care skills for self-reliance of the elderly caregivers.