ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN CAREGIVERS OFSCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To describe the factors related to quality of life among caregivers caring for patients with schizophrenia.

Material and Method: This is A cross-sectional survey research. 394 caregivers attending the outpatient department of Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry of all schizophrenia patients diagnosed according to the ICD-10 were chosen. The research instruments were general basic information and EQ–5D–5L (EuroQoL group – 5 Dimensions – 5 Levels) Thai version developed by Juntana Pattanaphesaj et al. Percentage and multiple linear regression were employed in statistical analyzing the data.

Results: Most of the caregivers were female (66.0%), the mean age of them was  51.4 ± 13.3years.  Having chronic diseases and insufficient income with expenditure were 62.4% and 51.8% respectively.  Caregiver’s relationship was being a patient’s mother or father (38.1%). 44.2 % of caregivers cared for the patients 4 hours per day and total time for caring was 71.3%. The mean EQ-5D-5L Visual Analog Scale (EQ-5D-5L VAS) score was  78.09  ±  16.76  while  mean  utility  score  was  0.56  ±  0.19. Age, Insufficient income, having chronic disease were negative factors related to utility score and also found that the positive factors affecting EQ-5D-5L VAS were male caregivers and education level (vocational, high school and higher bachelor degree) and negative factor were insufficient income and having chronic diseases.

Conclusion: Factors associated with caregivers quality of life using EQ-5D-5L were age, education, income and chronic disease. However, this finding could be benefit for clinical designs, especially the utilities, including economic assessment and policy determination in the future.