title: Stress, needs, and quality of life of family members caring for adults living with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan.
abstract: The stress, needs and quality of life (QoL) of family members of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are critical to explore in Taiwan where home care projects are not available to help the PLWHA families. We examined the extent of stress, needs, QoL and its correlates that family caregivers of PLWHA experienced with structural questionnaires survey. A total of 50 family caregivers of PLWHA visiting a medical center in Taiwan participated in the study from October 2005 to August 2006. Family caregivers felt most stressful on disclosure and stigma issues, and most worried about patients' interpersonal relationships. The most important needs were care-related needs including knowledge of the disease progression, methods of examination and treatment, and the related side effects. The level of stress significantly positively correlated with needs, and negatively correlated with QoL. Availability of alternative manpower to care PLWHA and being PLWHA's parents were two significant factors affecting family caregivers' QoL. In conclusion, family members of PLWHA experienced high level of stress, enormous caring needs, and poor QoL. A family-centered care for PLWHA and their families in the community is crucial to improve quality of care and to prevent family's overload, particularly for families with no alternative manpower and for those being PLWHA's parents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jui-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Tun-Chieh
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Po-Liang
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Nai-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yen-Hsu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult