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Exploring the Relationship between the Caregiver’s Stress Load and Dementia Patient Behavior: A Case Study of Dementia Specialist Outpatient Data from the Southern Medical Center of Taiwan

Author

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  • Cheng-Chang Liu

    (Graduate School of Design, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech), Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

  • Chang-Franw Lee

    (Graduate School of Design, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech), Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

  • Tung Chang

    (Doctoral Program, Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, YunTech, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

  • Jing-Jing Liao

    (Department of Business Administration, TransWorld University, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between caregivers’ stress loads and dementia patient behavior, including the correlation of “patient behavior” (severity and frequency), “social care system”, and “stress levels of caregivers”. The research method was based on the analysis of survey data collected at a dementia specialist outpatient clinic of a medical center in southern Taiwan from November 2013 to May 2015. Those surveyed by the center included patients who visited the hospital, and their caregivers completed a questionnaire survey. During the study period, a total of 558 questionnaires for 279 pairs were distributed, and all questionnaires were recovered. According to the survey statistics, the average age of the caregivers interviewed was 53.1 years; women accounted for 61.3% of respondents, and the duration of care exceeded three years. In terms of education, most respondents were college/university graduates. The most common surveyed relationship was that of children acting as the caregiver to a parent, and the average age of the patients was 77.73 years. Most caregivers were found to live with the patients (75.3%). In terms of severity and frequency, the surveyed items with the highest average scores were both the “delusion” item of the “patient behavior” facet, the “mental support”(mean = 1.97; standard deviation, SD = 0.869) item of the “social care system” facet, and the “social life stress” (mean = 2.26, SD = 1.510) item of the “Stress levels of caregivers” facet. The research results show that the “patient behavior” and “Stress levels of caregivers” facets have a significant positive correlation, and the “social care system” and “Stress levels of caregivers” facets have a significant negative correlation. In the future, priority of service planning and implementation of long–term policy should be given to home care, since this is a cultural characteristic of Taiwan. In circumstances where a primary caregiver takes care of family members, the patient’s behavior, length of care, mental support, and social life issues are key items that should be considered in the social welfare control service to alleviate the load of dementia patients on family caregivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng-Chang Liu & Chang-Franw Lee & Tung Chang & Jing-Jing Liao, 2020. "Exploring the Relationship between the Caregiver’s Stress Load and Dementia Patient Behavior: A Case Study of Dementia Specialist Outpatient Data from the Southern Medical Center of Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:4989-:d:383038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Pinquart & Silvia Sörensen, 2003. "Associations of Stressors and Uplifts of Caregiving With Caregiver Burden and Depressive Mood: A Meta-Analysis," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 112-128.
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