Caregivers' quality of life and quality of services for children with cancer: a review from iran

Well-being of professional older adults' caregivers in Alberta's assisted living and long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

For the care need of older adults, long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) facilities are expanding in Alberta, but little is known about the caregivers' well-being. The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical health conditions, mental and emotional health (MEH), health behaviour, stress levels, quality of life (QOL), and turnover and absenteeism (TAA) among professional caregivers in Alberta's LTC and AL facilities.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey involved 933 conveniently selected caregivers working in Alberta's LTC and AL facilities. Standardised questions were selected from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Short Form-36 QOL survey revalidated and administered to the participants. The new questionnaire was used to assess the caregivers' general health condition (GHC), physical health, health behaviour, stress level, QOL, and TAA. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha, Pearson's correlation, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Of 1385 surveys sent to 39 facilities, 933 valid responses were received (response rate = 67.4%). The majority of the caregivers were females (90.8%) who were ≥ 35 years (73.6%), worked between 20 to 40 h weekly (67.3%), and were satisfied with their GHC (68.1%). The Registered Nurses had better GHC (mean difference [MD] = 0.18, p = 0.004) and higher TAA than the Health Care Aides (MD = 0.24, p = 0.005). There were correlations between caregivers' TAA and each of MEH (r = 0.398), QOL (r = 0.308), and stress (r = 0.251); p < 0.001. The most significant predictors of TAA were the propensity to quit a workplace or the profession, illness, job stress, and work-related injury, F (5, 551) = 76.62, p < 0.001, adjusted R² = 0.998.

CONCLUSION

Reducing the caregivers' job stressors such as work overload, inflexible schedule, and poor remuneration, and improving their quality of life, health behaviour, and mental, emotional, and physical health conditions may increase their job satisfaction and reduce turnover and absenteeism.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM)

INTRODUCTION

This study analysed the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM) in the Argentinian population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The sample included 232 caregivers, of who 108 were parents of children with chronic diseases (mean, 9.54; standard deviation [SD], 4.43) and 124 parents of children in the general population (mean, 12.37; SD, 4.6).

RESULTS

We assessed the validity of the instrument with the known-groups method, finding significant differences between the case and control groups in the overall and subscale scores (P < .01). We also assessed test validity by means of exploratory factor analysis, which yielded an 8-factor model that explained 74.03% of the variance. We assessed reliability with the Cronbach alpha and found a high internal consistency (α=0.95).

CONCLUSION

The PedsQL module proved to be a valid and reliable tool to assess the impact of a chronic paediatric condition on caregiver quality of life and family functioning.

Power of Religious Beliefs and Coping with Cancer: Opinions of Iranian Parents

Childhood cancer as a stressful event has many consequences for both the parents and their children. The aim of the study was to assess the coping strategies used by Iranian parents of children with cancer. The present study was conducted through convenience sampling with the participation of 205 parents with at least one child with cancer referred to the oncology ward, in the southeast of Iran. The Coping Health Inventory for Parents was used to measure parental coping strategies. Results showed that the highest and the lowest mean coping score belonged to the dimensions of social support and medical factors, respectively. Briefly, "Belief in God" and "Gratefulness for his Blessings" were the most helpful coping strategies among parents. Based on results of this study, it seems necessary for nurses to be aware of all aspects of human existence, including religion and spirituality as strong sources of power for parents to adapt with the illness of their child. Also, providing interventions to teach effective coping skills to parents may reduce their distress and improve their quality of life.

Nursing adherence to ethical codes in pediatric oncology wards

BACKGROUND

The nature of children's cancer comes with lots of ethical issues. Nurses are encouraged to adhere to ethical codes in their practice.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the perspectives of nurses and mothers of children with cancer regarding the adherence of nurses to ethical codes.

RESEARCH DESIGN

In this descriptive-comparative study, a researcher-made questionnaire was used to assess the amount of adherence to Iranian nurses' code of ethics in perspectives of pediatric oncology nurses and mothers. As a convention, the total scores were categorized as optimal, average, and low adherence.

PARTICIPANTS AND CONTEXT

A total of 200 mothers and 60 nurses in pediatric oncology wards of five major hospitals in Tehran, Iran, participated in 2016.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Organizational approval by the university and informed consent were ensured before conducting the research. The principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, and anonymity were respected during the research process.

FINDINGS

Results showed the mean score of the adherence to ethical codes by nurses, as per the nurses is 86.71 (12.57) and as per the mothers is 78.67 (16.09). The highest frequency for "Low adherence" and "Optimal adherence" to code of ethics by nurses were "Respect for individual autonomy and decision-making" (mothers, 72% and nurses, 70%) and "Commitment to confidentiality" (mothers, 64% and nurses, 74%), respectively. This revealed a significant difference between the responses of the nurses and the mothers (p = 0.001).

DISCUSSION

The results support the other studies in Iran about the difference between the perspectives of patients and nurses about adherence of nurses to ethical codes.

CONCLUSION

Integration of family-centered and conventional care in addition to more attention to the education of professional ethical principles could be helpful to improve the ethical performance of nurses in oncology pediatric wards.

Calidad de vida de los cuidadores de personas con enfermedad crónica

El alto impacto epidemiológico, social, económico y cultural de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles afecta el significado de calidad de vida en las personas que las padecen y en sus cuidadores familiares. Objetivo: describir la forma como se construye el significado de calidad de vida de cuidadores de personas con enfermedad crónica. Método: investigación desarrollada con la propuesta de metasíntesis cualitativa de Sandelowski y Barroso. Resultados: se presentan tres momentos en la trayectoria: 1) se afecta (destrucción celular programada); 2) se trasforma (autocontrol del desarrollo y crecimiento), y 3) se resignifica (condensación); y cuatro factores condicionantes para la construcción del significado de calidad de vida para el cuidador como son el soporte social, la espiritualidad, la habilidad para cuidar y el tiempo. Conclusiones: la calidad de vida se afecta y se reconstruye en virtud del significado que el cuidador tenga de esta.

Health Related Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Patients Suffering from Mental Disorders

INTRODUCTION

In the light of the advances in treatment measures and early discharge of patients with mental disorders from psychiatric hospitals, families play important role in caring for such patients.

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the Quality of Life (QoL) of the family caregivers of patients with mental disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in teaching health care centers affiliated with medical universities in Tehran, Iran. Sampling was conducted by convenience random technique. Participants were 238 family caregivers of mental disorder patients and the Short-Form Health Survey Questionnaire was used to gather data. The data were analyzed by Spearman's correlation, t-test and ANOVA in SPSS 18.0.

RESULTS

The women's mean QoL was lower than the men's. Regarding family relationship with the patients, the lowest QoL was observed among the mothers. There was a significant relationship between the caregivers QoL and economic status, the caregivers gender, family relationship with the patients and the patients' gender (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The caregivers of mental disorder patients have lower QoL compared with general population. Appropriately developed plans should be implemented to improve QoL among the family caregivers of these patients.

Evaluation of medical staff and patient satisfaction of Chinese hospitals and measures for improvement

Our goal is to establish criteria for evaluating satisfaction of medical staff and patients of Chinese hospitals and propose measures for improvement. A survey was conducted among medical staff and patients of infectious disease hospitals in three locations, i.e., Shanghai, Chongqing, and Nanning. The analyses included item analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation and one-way analysis of variance. For the patient group, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) = 0.973, Cronbach's α = 0.962 and the Pearson correlation coefficients among the five dimensions of satisfaction ranged from 0.583 to 0.795. For the medical staff group, KMO = 0.972, Cronbach's α = 0.970, and the Pearson correlation coefficients among the five dimensions of satisfaction ranged from 0.603 to 0.854. The means on the five dimensions of satisfaction for the patient group were 0.74 to 1.34, 0.81 to 1.17, 0.78 to 1.07, 0.89 to 1.34, and 0.71 to 1.10. The means on the five dimensions of satisfaction for the medical staff group were 0.17 to 1.03, ‒ 0.16 to 0.60, ‒ 0.18 to 0.74, 0.23 to 0.72, and ‒ 0.39 to 0.37. The clinicians were less satisfied with the hospitals than the patients. Medical staff and patients in Shanghai were relatively more satisfied. Improving the evaluation criteria and survey methods with respect to medical staff and patient satisfaction with Chinese hospitals may increase clinician and patient satisfaction and improve the health care environment in China.

Perceived pregnancy stress and quality of life amongst Iranian women

Background:

Stress during pregnancy can result in critical negative outcomes on the mother, the fetus, the newborn, the child and even the adolescent. Quality of life has been recognized as a predictor of stress amongst pregnant women.

Objectives:

The first aim of this study was to investigate the role of quality of life in pregnancy stress rates. The second aim was to explore the relationship between maternal stress rate and the four domains of quality of life namely physical health, psychological status, social relationships and environmental conditions.

Methods:

The present study was a quantitative cross-sectional research. It was conducted on 210 pregnant women in all trimesters of pregnancy who attended a hospital located in the west of Tehran for prenatal care between August and October 2012. Two questionnaires of The WHO QOL–BREF and Specific Pregnancy Stress were given to respondents to complete. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 22 using one-way ANOVA and Spearman correlation and Lisrel 8.8 using statistical path analyzing to describe the direct dependencies among variables.

Results:

In the current study, we hypothesized that quality of life may influence the perceived stress during pregnancy. The mean age of the women surveyed was estimated 27±4.8 years. The ultimate result showed that there is a significant relationship between quality of life and pregnancy stress level (Pvalue<0.05, β=-0.16). In addition, we found a significant relationship, as well as direct correlation between the environmental domain in quality of life and the financial and environmental dimensions of specific pregnancy stress (Pvalue<0.05, r=-0.365, r=-0.181).

Conclusion:

Further investigations may be considered for extending the results to all pregnant women. Thus, further research across country would be required to validate the results of this study and to generalize the findings to wider population.

The Relationship of Social Support and Quality of Life with the Level of Stress in Pregnant Women Using the PATH Model

Background

Lack of adequate social support, stress, and generally poor quality of life during pregnancy leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and the baby.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of social support and quality of life with level of stress during pregnancy.

Materials and Methods

This was a descriptive-correlative study conducted on 210 pregnant women (meeting study criteria), attending Shahriar Social Services Hospital during 2012. Purposive convenient sampling was used. Study subjects completed questionnaires of obstetrics and demographics, VAUX social support, World Health Organization quality of life, and stress during pregnancy. Data were analyzed with SPSS-19 and Lisrel 8.8, utilizing statistical path analysis.

Results

The final path model fitted well (CF1 = 1, RMSEA = 0.00) and showed that direct quality of life paths with β = -0.2, and indirect social support with β = -0.088 had the most effects on reduction of stress during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Social support indirectly and quality of life directly affect stress during pregnancy. Thus, health officials should attempt to establish measures to further enhance social support and quality of life of pregnant women to reduce stress and its consequences during this time.