Overload and quality of life of caregivers of bedridden people at home

Cross-sectional study, carried out in 2019, with a total of 240 caregivers who answered three instruments: sociodemographic questionnaire, Zarit Burden Interview and the WHOQOL-bref. For analysis, the Chi-square, Fisher and Binary Logistic Regression tests were used.

Results

Most caregivers (86.6%) were found to have moderate or severe overload and the overall quality of life score was 48.9 points. Caregivers that worked at home (OR=52.89), with health affected because of their involvement as a caregiver (OR=22.92) and who have lost control of their lives since the bedridden person’s illness (OR=49.38), were more likely to have poor quality of life.

Conclusion

Occupation and period of care were significantly related to the quality of life of caregivers of bedridden people. The occupation “household” and overload factors are significant predictors of poor quality of life.

Occupational stress; Quality of life; Caregivers; Bedridden people; Primary health care

Variables	n(%)
Sex
Female	236(98.3)
Male	4(1.7)
Religion
Religious	234(97.5)
Not religious	6(2.5)
Age group
18-50	138(57.5)
>50	102(42.5)
Race
White	96(40)
Not white	144(60)
Education
Up to 12 years of study	136(56.7)
>12 years of study	104(43.3)
Marital status
With a partner	132(55)
No partner	108(45)
Occupation
Household	221(92)
Others	19(8)
Period of care
Full time	206(85.8)
Partial	34(14.2)
Per capita income
< 1 minimum wage^*	157(65.4)
> 1 minimum wage	83(34.6)

Variables	Score		p-value
Variables	No overload and light overload n(%)	Moderate and severe overload n(%)	p-value
Sex			0.562**
Male	0(0)	4(1.7)
Female	32(13.3)	204(85)
Religion			0.420**
Religious	32 (13.3)	202(84.2)
Not religious	0(0)	6(2.5)
Age group			0.591
18-50	17(7.1)	121(50.4)
>50	15(6.2)	87(36.3)
Race			0.394
White	15(6.2)	81(33.8)
Not white	17(7.1)	127(52.9)
Education			0.664
< 12 years of study	17(7.1)	119(49.6)
>12 years of study	15(6.2)	89(37.1)
Marital status			0.819
With a partner	17(7.1)	115(47.9)
No partner	15(6.2)	93(38.8)
Occupation			0.479**
Household	29(12.1)	192(80)
Others	3(1.2)	16(6.7)
Period of care			0.424
Full time	26(10.8)	180(75)
Partial	6(2.5)	28(11.7)
Per capita income			0.242
< 1 minimum wage ^*	18(7.5)	139(57.9)
> 1 minimum wage	14(5.8)	69(28.8)

Variables	Score		p-value
Variables	Bad quality of life n(%)	Good quality of life n(%)	p-value
Sex			0.903**
Male	4(1.7)	0(0)
Female	230(95.8)	6(2.5)
Religion			0.858**
Religious	228(95)	6(2.5)
Not religious	6(2.5)	0(0)
Age group			0.213**
18-50	136(56.7)	2(0.8)
>50	98(40.8)	4(1.7)
Race			0.544**
White	94(39.2)	2(0.8)
Not white	140(58.3)	4(1.7)
Education			0.226**
< 12 years of study	134(55.8)	2(0.8)
>12 years of study	100(41.7)	4(1.7)
Marital Status			0.253**
With a partner	130(54.2)	2(0.8)
No partner	104(43.3)	4(1.7)
Occupation			0.001**
Household	220(91.7)	1(0.4)
Others	14(5.8)	5(2.1)
Period of care			0.039**
Full time	203(84.6)	3(1.25)
Partial	31(12.9)	3(1.25)
Per capita income			0.343**
< 1 minimum wage^*	154(64.2)	3(1.25)
> 1 minimum wage	80(33.3)	3(1.25)

Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo R. Napoleão de Barros, 754, 04024-002 São Paulo - SP/Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 5576 4430 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Marcela dos Santos Albuquerque Melo Email: marcela.melo3@gmail.com