title: An observational study of family caregivers' quality of life caring for patients with a stoma.
abstract: The management of stomas following surgical resection often falls to family caregivers. The purpose of this observational survey was to investigate the family caregivers' quality of life caring for a patient with ostomy. Between August 2008 and July 2009, 144 eligible Italian family members caring for a patient with ostomy were evaluated using two questionnaires: the Caregiver Quality of Life Cancer survey and the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Both questionnaires have similar capabilities to explore the burden of caregiving. The Caregiver Quality of Life Cancer reported a total Quality of Life score of 97.11 (SD = 14.36), whereas the Caregiver Burden Inventory score for the sample was 51.95 (SD = 10.72). Variables of interest included health, self-perception, nationality, society and territory in which the person lives, education, job, standard of living, house, family, relations with partner, and friendship. Only those who provided complete data (n = 123) were included in the analyses. Data show that generally the family caregiver is married (92%), female (97%), and aged 55.15 years (SD = 16.5). The burden of assistance is higher in younger single caregivers, whereas those with children or who are aged have economic concerns. Loss of spirituality is reported in people aged 30-49 and 71-90 years. Family Caregivers' Quality of Life is poor. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of social and economic interventions to help family caregivers in the management of long-term assistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franchelli
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cicolini
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D054047:Surgical Stomas; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires