Quality of life in caregivers providing care for lung transplant candidates.
BACKGROUND
Caregivers are essential members of the health care team who provide care, valued at more than $250 billion each year, to millions of persons who require assistance with health and daily care. Patients with respiratory diseases who are waiting for a lung transplant are required to have an identified caregiver. The caregivers are rarely studied.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationships among the health status of caregivers of lung transplant candidates, caregivers' reaction to caregiving, and caregivers' perceived quality of life.


METHODS
This descriptive study examined the quality of life of lung transplant caregivers from a multidimensional perspective.


METHODS
Twenty-nine dyads of lung transplant candidates and their caregivers were recruited from a Midwestern medical center.


METHODS
Data were collected by self-report: caregivers completed the Quality of Life Index, SF-12 health survey, Profile of Mood States-Short Form, and the Caregiver Reaction Assessment.


RESULTS
Caregivers reported favorable levels of quality of life, physical health, and mood during the pretransplant waiting phase. However, problem areas for caregivers during this time included fatigue, depression, and the financial impact of the transplant. Data analyses indicated that depression, caregiver general health, impact on finances, and lack of family support had the greatest effect on caregivers' quality of life. Nurses are urged to recognize the role of caregivers in the transplant process, ask about and listen to caregivers' needs, and include caregivers in the plan of care.
Lefaiver
Cheryl A
CA
Advocate Christ Medical Center/Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, 4440 W. 95th Street, Room 162CW, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA. Cheryl.Lefaiver@advocatehealth.com
Keough
Vicki A
VA
Letizia
Marijo
M
Lanuza
Dorothy M
DM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists