Journal article
Living situation of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury.
- Gemperli A Swiss Paraplegic Group, Health Services Research, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland. E-mail: armin.gemperli@paraplegie.ch.
- Rubinelli S
- Zanini C
- Huang J
- Brach M
- Pacheco Barzallo D
- 2020-10-29
Published in:
- Journal of rehabilitation medicine. - 2020
family caregiver
home care service
home nursing
independent living
informal sector
nursing
spinal cord injury
community medicine
English
OBJECTIVE
To describe the living situation of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional questionnaire.
SUBJECTS
Primary family caregivers of persons with chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury. For comparison, the study population was matched to family caregivers of persons dealing with long-term health conditions in the general population, using a propensity-score based algorithm.
RESULTS
A total of 717 family caregivers participated in the survey (35% response rate). Participants were mostly female (72%), mean age 57 years, and had spent approximately 13 years caring for their relative. A mean of 21 h/week was spent providing care and assistance. The vast majority of family caregivers reported coping well with their situation. However, support from public services was deemed inadequate. Compared with family caregivers in the general population, family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury performed more caring tasks and reported a slightly lower quality of life.
CONCLUSION
Family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury are self-reliant to cope with their situation, but report discontent with public support services. The healthcare system could provide alternative support measures, such as direct financial compensation.
To describe the living situation of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional questionnaire.
SUBJECTS
Primary family caregivers of persons with chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury. For comparison, the study population was matched to family caregivers of persons dealing with long-term health conditions in the general population, using a propensity-score based algorithm.
RESULTS
A total of 717 family caregivers participated in the survey (35% response rate). Participants were mostly female (72%), mean age 57 years, and had spent approximately 13 years caring for their relative. A mean of 21 h/week was spent providing care and assistance. The vast majority of family caregivers reported coping well with their situation. However, support from public services was deemed inadequate. Compared with family caregivers in the general population, family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury performed more caring tasks and reported a slightly lower quality of life.
CONCLUSION
Family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury are self-reliant to cope with their situation, but report discontent with public support services. The healthcare system could provide alternative support measures, such as direct financial compensation.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.2340/16501977-2762
- PMID 33119123
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/13466
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