Análise da sobrecarga e qualidade de vida dos cuidadores leigos de pessoas acamadas em domicílio

Abstract

With a demographic and epidemiological transition, there was an increase in chronic and degenerative diseases, influencing the increase in bedridden patients, dependent on the care of others. This research aims to analyze the burden and quality of life of lay caregivers of people bedridden at home. This is a cross-sectional, exploratory study with a quantitative approach, carried out in the municipality of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, in 2019, with 240 lay assistants of patients bedridden at home. This research had the option of including older adults, not being a person with disabilities, not being a health professional, being a primary caregiver and not caring for another patient. Data collection was performed using three instruments: sociodemographic questionnaire, Caregiver Burden Inventory (interview by Zarit Burden) and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life (WHOQOL) - bref. The data were stored in SPSS and the analysis was used to test Pearson's Chi-square to verify an association between dependent variables and independent variables. In the event that the Chi square requirements were not met, Fisher's exact test was used. It was found that most assistants (86.6%) had moderate or severe overload and a general quality of life score of 48.9 points. As variables in association with quality of life were profession (p-value = 0.001) and duration period (p-value = 0.039). Caregivers with occupation of the Home (OR = 52.89), with health affected because of the their involvement as a caregiver (OR = 22.92) and who lose or control their life since the illness of the loved one (OR = 49.38), were more likely to have a poor quality of life. This study included the importance of actions to improve the quality of life in Primary Care users, which are promoted by both health professionals and public managers.