Informal caregivers of patients with COPD: Home Sweet Home?
The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on society is increasing. Healthcare systems should support patients with COPD in achieving an optimal quality of life, while limiting the costs of care. As a consequence, a shift from hospital care to home care seems inevitable. Therefore, patients will have to rely to a greater extent on informal caregivers. Patients with COPD as well as their informal caregivers are confronted with multiple limitations in activities of daily living. The presence of an informal caregiver is important to provide practical help and emotional support. However, caregivers can be overprotective, which can make patients more dependent. Informal caregiving may lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, social isolation and a changed relationship with the patient. The caregivers' subjective burden is a major determinant of the impact of caregiving. Therefore, the caregiver's perception of the patient's health is an important factor. This article reviews the current knowledge about these informal caregivers of patients with COPD, the impact of COPD on their lives and their perception of the patient's health status.
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands nienkenakken@ciro-horn.nl.
Nienke
N
Nakken
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands Centre of Expertise for Palliative Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Daisy J A
DJ
Janssen
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands.
Esther H A
EH
van den Bogaart
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Emiel F M
EF
Wouters
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands.
Frits M E
FM
Franssen
Dept of Medical Psychology and Dept of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Jan H
JH
Vercoulen
Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED - Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Martijn A
MA
Spruit
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010465:Perception; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life