주간호자가 인지하는 알츠하이머병 환자와 주간호자의 삶의 질

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of life (QoL) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their and caregivers and its influencing factors. Methods: A descriptive research design was used. 211 pairs of AD patients and their caregivers were recruited from a neurology outpatient clinic of S medical center in Seoul, Korea. Caregivers completed several structured questionnaires regarding AD patients' QoL as well as their QoL, patients' behavioral and psychological symptoms, patients' activities of daily living (ADL), social support, and quality of relationship between AD patients and caregivers. Cognitive status of AD patients was assessed by the researchers using Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: The scores of QoL were 26.91 for AD patients and 85.62 for their caregivers. In the multiple regression, factors associated with AD patients' QoL were the quality of relationship (β = .44), ADL (β = -.33), patient's age (β = .20), caregivers' QoL (β = .20), and patient's gender (β = .11). Factors associated with caregivers' QoL were the quality of relationship (β = .34), relationship (β = .32), patient's QoL (β = .26), caregivers' gender (β = .18), social support (β = .12), and the level of caregivers' education (β = .12). Conclusion: To improve the QoL in AD patients and their caregivers, strategies to promote their quality of relationship are needed. © 2016 Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.