Authors : Ong Hui Chien, Norhayati Ibrahim and Suzaily Wahab
Abstract: Malaysia implemented a deinstitutionalization policy a few decades ago and since, then there had been evidence that two-thirds of schizophrenic patients returned to live at home with family members. Past studies considered caring the most challenging and burdensome task. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the level of caretaking burden and to explore the correlation between caretaking burden and Quality of Life (QoL) of the caregivers. This was a cross-sectional study which involved 60 caregivers of schizophrenic patients at the Outpatient Clinic of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM). The Short Form-12 (SF-12) and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) questionnaires were used to assess quality of life and caretaking burden through face to face interview. Results showed that approximately 13.3% of the caregivers reported experiencing moderate to severe burden 40% reported having mild to moderate burden and the remaining had little or no burden. In addition, caretaking burden was correlated to all other domains in the SF-12 which were Bodily Pain (BP), Mental Health (MH), Vitality (VT), Role-Physical (RP), Role-Emotional(RE), Physical Functioning (PF) and Social Functioning (SF) except General Health (GH). The findings help health service providers and government aid to decrease the burden on caregivers and increase their QoL through appropriate programmes and interventions for improving the efficacy of the caring process.
Ong Hui Chien, Norhayati Ibrahim and Suzaily Wahab, 2017. Correlation of Quality of Life and Burden among Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients: A Preliminary Study. The Social Sciences, 12: 419-424.