Caregiving for Epilepsy: Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Health-Related Quality of Life of Family Caregivers
Living with epilepsy is equally demanding for both patients and their caregivers. The caregivers’ tasks are not limited to caring for the patients only but also the need to improve their awareness, knowledge and attitude (AKA) level as lack of understanding has a major impact on health-related q...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4921/1/FH02-FSK-15-03893.pdf http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4921/ |
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| Summary: | Living with epilepsy is equally demanding for both patients and their
caregivers. The caregivers’ tasks are not limited to caring for the patients
only but also the need to improve their awareness, knowledge and attitude
(AKA) level as lack of understanding has a major impact on health-related
quality of life (HRQoL). Little is known about the influence of AKA on
family caregivers’ HRQoL. Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to assess
and relate the AKA and HRQoL profiles of epilepsy carers. Methods: This
prospective, cross-sectional study included a sample of 32 epilepsy family
caregivers who were recruited from the Neurology and Paediatric Clinics of
Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ), Kuala Terengganu. Results:
Majority were Muslims (93.8%), married (65.6%), housewives (31.2%), who
earning monthly income of not more than RM 1000 (34.4%) and was the
patients’ mothers (40.6%). The Total AKA score was generally good
(mean=123.4±16.8, median 122.5) with awareness being good, knowledge
moderate and attitude positive whereas HRQoL score for Disruptiveness was
the highest (good) compared to other domains. There were significantly
higher scores for Sexual Functioning (p = 0.039) among Poor AKA group and
Pain Management (p = 0.040) among Good AKA. Conclusion: The overall
outcomes signified that family caregivers with Good AKA experienced better
well-being compared to those with Poor AKA while carrying out their roles
as caregivers. Consequently, carers clearly require constant epilepsy
education to enhance skill-building in order to understand and keep updates
with the disease, thus indirectly sustaining their desired HRQoL status from
time to time. |
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