• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2017

Purpose: There has been very little study on the associations between patient's symptoms themselves and family caregiver (FC)'s depression in the palliative phase. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between symptom features of terminally ill cancer patients and their FC's depression. Methods: We performed a multicenter survey using the MD Anderson symptom inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A total of 293 patient-FC pairs were recruited from seven tertiary medical centers. A multivariate regression analysis was applied for identifying the relevant factors associated with FC depression and for estimating adjusted depression score of FCs. Results: Among various psychosocial factors, low FC quality of life, low social support, spouse, and more caregiving time were significantly associated with FCs' depression. According to the presence of FCs' depression, there were significant differences in some symptom characteristics of patients. Even after adjusting for the relevant confounders, depression scores were lower in FCs caring for patients who had negative symptoms (loss of appetite, P=0.005; drowsiness, P=0.024; and dry mouth, P=0.043) than in FCs caring for patients who had not. FCs caring for patients with severe appetite loss had lower depression scores than those with not severe one (P=0.039). Conclusion: Our result suggests that patient's symptom characteristics might be helpful when evaluating a FC's depression.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2016

Purpose: It is important to alleviate care burden for terminal cancer patients and their families. This study investigated the factors associated with care burden among family caregivers (FCs) of terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: We analyzed data from 289 FCs of terminal cancer patients who were admitted to palliative care units of seven medical centers in Korea. Care burden was assessed using the Korean version of Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) scale which comprises five domains. A multivariate logistic regression model with stepwise variable selection was used to identify factors associated with care burden. Results: Diverse associating factors were identified in each CRA domain. Emotional factors had broad influence on care burden. FCs with emotional distress were more likely to experience changes to their daily routine (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29~5.02), lack of family support (aOR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.04~4.97) and health issues (aOR, 5.44; 2.50~11.88). Family functionality clearly reflected a lack of support, and severe family dysfunction was linked to financial issues as well. FCs without religion or comorbid conditions felt more burdened. The caregiving duration and daily caregiving hours significantly predicted FCs' lifestyle changes and physical burden. FCs who were employed, had weak social support or could not visit frequently, had a low self-esteem. Conclusion: This study indicates that it is helpful to understand FCs' emotional status and family functions to assess their care burden. Thus, efforts are needed to lessen their financial burden through social support systems.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1263-1280
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• 2010

The present study describes the acculturation meaning of 12 Chinese-Chosun residential care attendants(RCAs) who are currently working in long-term care settings for Korean older adults. Using a qualitative research method, the findings show that the acculturation process of Chinese-Chosun RCAs consists of three stages: entrance, conflict, and adaptation. In the initial stage, the assets of the social and cultural networks among their friends and relatives, who already settled down or employed as RCAs, provided more opportunities for being employed as a RCA. However, most Chinese-Chosun RCAs experienced a number of conflicts while they adapted to mainstream society and perform caregiving tasks. They perceived discrimination, heavy workload, prejudice, and homesick. Nevertheless, they appeared to adapt effectively to Korean society and working environments because they were aware of the various benefits of working as a RCA such as higher wage and more job openings compared to other jobs, a rapport with the patients and patients' families, flexible work hours, and pride as a caregiver. This type of qualitative groundwork will be an important precursor to the design, implementation, and evaluation of acculturation research for minority immigrant workers in the Korean social welfare system.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: Terminal cancer influences on patients as well as their family members. This research was performed to evaluate the quality of lift of primary family caregivers and to investigate the influencing factors. Methods: The results of survey were collected from 81 family caregivers who were taking care of hospitalized terminal cancer patients at an oncology department of university hospital in Daejeon from March 2005 to January 2006 with questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of the general characteristics of the subjects, and 36-items short-form Health Survey (SE-36) Korean version to evaluate the quality of life of family caregivers, the characteristics of patients and family caregivers' caring trait. Results: Family caregivers' mean (${\pm}SD$) SF-36 score was 47.9 (${\pm}20.7$). Influential factors on family caregivers' life quality were daily raring hours, economic burden, type of treatment; only supportive care, caring duration, sex, the numbers of ADLs (activity of daily livings) items that patients needed help in order by stepwised multiple logistic regression analysis (overall $R^2=0.639$, P=0.044). Conclusion: Daily raring hours and economic burden were two influential modifiable factors on family caregivers' quality of life. Therefore, social supportive systems are required to reduce family caregivers' daily caring hour and economic burden.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2016

Purpose: The unmet medical service needs of caregivers critically influence their caring for terminal cancer patients, but not much research has been done in this regard. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the association between caregivers' characteristics and their unmet medical service needs. Methods: The survey was conducted with 109 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients admitted to four hospice units. The data were collected from March 2014 through December 2014 using a structured questionnaire. The unmet medical service needs were measured using 14 items which were adopted and modified by authors. Results: Seven areas of unmet medical service needs were shown to be significant. A well-educated group showed stronger needs for counsel about cancer screening and complementary-alternative medicine and health supplement food. A never-smoked group was identified with less need for sexual dysfunction counsel. Counsel about family and personal relations was more necessary for current drinkers and current workers, and less necessary for the married. Insurance counsel was more needed for a no-religion group. Occupation counsel was less necessary for healthy patients. Financial support was less necessary for the married group. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is highly recommended to further investigate the unmet medical service needs of family caregivers for terminal cancer patients and causes of the unmet needs.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 2015

Purpose: It is well known that a terminal cancer condition affects not only patient themselves but their family members because the patients experience a variety of symptoms. This study was aimed to investigate modifiable factors that influence family caregivers' quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Methods: From January 2015 through May 2015, a survey was conducted with 61 family caregivers of hospice patients who were hospitalized in two university hospitals and one municipal hospital in Busan. The questionnaire was consisted of characteristics of family caregivers and patients, the Korean version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC-K), Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and patient's symptom controlling scores rated by family caregivers. Results: Family caregivers' depression was associated with religion. Quality of life and depression of family caregivers were also influenced by monthly household income. Patient age was inversely related to family caregiver's quality of life ($r_s=-0.259$, P=0.043). Family caregivers' quality of life was associated with patient's anxiety (r=0.443, P=0.001). Family caregivers' depression was affected by patient's constipation (r=0.276, P=0.046), anxiety (r=0.508, P<0.001), and daytime drowsiness (r=0.377, P=0.005). And family caregivers' anxiety was influenced by patients' sleep disturbance (r=0.276, P=0.046), depression (r=0.297, P=0.031), and anxiety (r=0.357, P=0.009). Conclusion: According to our findings, family caregivers had higher quality of life and less depression and anxiety when symptoms in hospice patients were well controlled.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

Exposed doses to the patient's caregiver and their house due to the 131I from patients discharged from the hospital were measured using OSL dosimeters. Usually, 3.37-5.55 GBq (100-150 mCi) of $^{131}I$ administrated patients are discharged from the hospital after 3 or 4 days of hospitalization in Korea. In addition, after 5 to 8 days, the accumulated doses of the patient's caregiver and house after hospitalization of the patient were measured using OSL dosimeters. The results of the measured average accumulated doses were 0.1 mSv, which is 10% of 1 mSv, the public dose limit in the Korean Atomic Energy Law. And it's standard deviation was 0.087 mSv. Based on the results of this study, we anticipate that we could assure the compliance of the regulation requirement 5 mSv of MEST (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) Notice No. 2008-45 for the patient's caregiver or family, even if we reduce the 3-4 days of hospitalization to 1-2 days or less.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2020

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the care burden and life quality in family caregivers of community-dwelling patients using home mechanical ventilator(HMV) in Yeognam region. Methods : Survey performed to family caregivers of the patients using HMV in Yeognam region, Korea. The questionnaire is composed with patient care and the burden on caring. Korean version of Short Form Zarit Burden Interview(K-ZBI-12) and 3-Level version of EuroQol-5 Dimension applying Korean weight(KEQ-5D-3L) were also investigated. Statistical significance was accepted for p<.05. Results : A total 98 out of 150 questionnaires were analyzed. The K-ZBI-12(33.08±10.34) had a correlation with KEQ-5D-3L(0.71±0.25) negatively(p=.038). Patients' age, duration of HMV, financial burden and professional caregivers' care time had correlations with K-ZBI-12 positively(p<.05). KEQ-5D-3L correlated duration of HMV negatively(p=.017). Invasive ventilator group had lower KEQ-5D-3L than the non-invasive ventilator group(p=.008). K-ZBI-12 was lower in more than one caregiver care of patients than in one(p=.001). Conclusion : This study revealed high care burden and low quality of life in family caregivers of the patients with HMV in Yeongnam region, Korea. Efforts are needed to continually identify the needs of patients and their families, and the socioeconomic support and medical services associated with HMV.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2007

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to understand the coping experience that family caregivers undergo during the process of care, to grasp coping behaviors used to solve problems and, finally, to develop a substantive theory by analyzing the coping process. Method: The methodology of collecting and analyzing data used in this study followed the ground theory. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with open-ended and descriptive questions about the subjects' coping experiences. The survey was conducted between May 2006 and August. The subjects of this study were 10 women. Result: The result of the study is as follows. Core category of This Study was "Self-Sacrifice". And The coping process of family caregivers while taking care of the industrial disaster victim was found to have five stages: shocked stage; undertaking stage of new role; skilled stage; exhausted stage; and desiderating stage. Seven coping behaviors were found to reduce the stress of role and anguish resulting from care. Conclusion: The result of this study is helpful for developing effective industrial nursing strategies suitable for each coping stage. It is necessary to practice nursing mediation and to analyze the change about nursing effect and family caregivers' adaptation.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the infuluential variables between general character, social support and stress of family caregivers for disordered elderly family and family supporters for general elderly. The study was conducted through interviews with 177 family caregivers and questionaires with 218 supporters in Taegu and Kyeongbuk province. The data were analysed with the spss $pc^+$ statistical package using frequency, correlation, multiple regression, and path anaysis. As results of this study were as follows: Disordered elderly family; degree of physical and psychological disorder, caring-time per day, social support are important factors affecting the stress. General elderly family; digree of physical and psychological disorder, monthly family income, social support are important factors affecting the stress.