Qualidade de vida nos cuidadores informais de doentes com doença de Alzheimer

Abstract

O cuidador desempenha um papel crucial na vida do doente com Doença de Alzheimer. Dessa forma, procurou-se compreender como variáveis psicológicas e sociodemográficas se relacionam, predizem e moderam a qualidade de vida dos cuidadores. Participaram 102 cuidadores de doentes com Doença de Alzheimer em estádio moderado e severo e responderam às versões validadas do Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social, Revised Memory and Behavior Checklist, Package Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness, e Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease. Cuidadores mais velhos, com menor escolaridade, com doentes com mais problemas, mais insatisfeitos com o suporte social e funcionamento familiar, e que experienciavam maior morbilidade apresentaram pior qualidade de vida. Cuidadores com prestação de cuidados até 12 horas/dia revelaram maior satisfação com suporte social e qualidade de vida. A idade, morbilidade, problemas comportamentais do doente, e funcionamento familiar previram a qualidade de vida. A espiritualidade moderou a relação entre a comunicação e a qualidade de vida. Assim, é importante intervir nesta população particularmente nos cuidadores mais velhos e com menor escolaridade no sentido de promover a sua qualidade de vida.

Caregivers play a crucial role in Alzheimer's Disease patient’s life. This study aimed to understand how the psychological and sociodemographic variables relate, predict and moderate the quality of life of informal caregivers. The Sample consisted of 102 caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease in moderate and severe stages. They answered the validated versions of: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 Satisfaction Scale with Social Support, Revised Memory and Behavior Checklist, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales Package, Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness, and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease. Older caregivers, less educated, responsible for patients with more problems, more dissatisfied with their social support and family functioning, and that have experienced greater psychological morbidity, showed a worse quality of life. Caregivers with provision of care from 1 to 12 hours showed greater satisfaction with their social support and quality of life. Caregiver’s age, morbidity, patient problems, satisfaction and family functioning predicted the quality of life. Spirituality moderated the relationship between family communication and the quality of life, but not between satisfaction and quality of life. It is important to intervene in this population, particularly in older and less educated caregivers to promote their quality of life.