Caregiver Burden and Quality of Life of Dialysis Patients and Their Caregivers

Authors

Arvinder SinghFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Nursing

First Advisor's Name

Carmen Caicedo

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Dorothy Brooten

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Eric Fenkl

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Timothy Page

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Dialysis, Quality of Life, Caregivers, Caregiver burden, End-Stage-Renal-Disease

Date of Defense

11-10-2022

Abstract

Abstract

Background

The number of dialysis patients in the US has increased significantly in the last decade (AKF, 2017), and the prevalence of renal failure more than doubled between 1990 and 2015. Once diagnosed with renal failure, they require renal replacement therapy, considering the average wait time for renal transplant in the US is 3.6 years. Renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) increases dialysis patient’s physical and mental stress, affecting their quality of life (QOL). The patients rely on unpaid caregivers to support their daily activities and medical needs. These responsibilities burden the caregivers, affecting their physical and mental health and QOL. Hence, it becomes essential to study this population's QOL and caregiver burden. The study aimed to explore the QOL of Hemodialysis (HD), Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients, their caregivers, and caregiver burden.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 50 pairs of dialysis patients and their caregivers from four dialysis centers in Broward County, Florida. The Kidney Disease QOL questionnaire, World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF questionnaire, and Caregiver Burden Inventory were used.

Results

Significant differences were found between the QOL of HD and PD patients; PD patients reported better QOL, and caregivers of PD patients reported better QOL than HD patients. Male caregivers reported significantly less burden than female caregivers; less caregiver burden was observed in caregivers with higher than bachelor’s degrees. A higher caregiver burden was observed in patients with more comorbidities.

Conclusion

Dialysis patients and their caregivers experience poor QOL. The caregivers of dialysis patients experience a significant caregiver burden that affects their QOL. Scientific literature has limited studies on this topic. More studies should be done on dialysis caregivers, caregiver burden, and QOL. Interventions should be designed to reduce caregiver burden and improve the QOL of dialysis patients and their caregivers.

Identifier

FIDC010963

Recommended Citation

Singh, Arvinder, "Caregiver Burden and Quality of Life of Dialysis Patients and Their Caregivers" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5150.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5150