Assessment of Quality of Life of Family Members of Inpatients with End-Stage Disease. Issue 4 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bužngová, Radka; Kozáková, Radka; Sikorová, Lucie
• Is Part Of: Journal of palliative care. Volume 31:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: palliative care -- family members -- quality of life; Terminal care -- Periodicals; 362.17505
• DOI: 10.1177/082585971503100407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0825-8597

Abstract

Background: An important aim of palliative care is to ensure the highest possible quality of life (QoL) for the family members of patients. Aim: We aimed to determine the QoL of family members of hospitalized patients with end-stage disease, as well as differences in QoL based on socio-demographic characteristics and the patient's functional status, psychological distress, and QoL. Methods: Study participants were 292 family members of terminally ill patients at University Hospital, Ostrava, Czech Republic. To evaluate family members' QoL, we used the Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness — Family Carer Version (QOLLTI-F). We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale to assess patients' functional status and psychological distress. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in QoL evaluation based on family members' socio-demographic characteristics in education, employment, and age. A significantly lower QoL score was observed for patients' life partners in six domains. A correlation was found between patients' poorer functional status and family members' lower QoL. We found lower global QoL in family members of patients with depression. Conclusion: Family support is a cornerstone of palliative care. Palliative care professionals should focus on at-risk family members — the life partners of patients, the unemployed, younger people, and those whose ill loved one has a poor functional status.