Abstract
BackgroundProviding care for patients with dementia can negatively influence the physical health and health behaviours of family caregivers. A better understanding of the factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation is vital for developing effective interventions. Thus, this study aimed to identify factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation among family caregivers of patients with dementia.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that analysed the data of 2,414 family caregivers of patients with dementia collected by the Korea Community Health Survey in 2017. A binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to identify demographic, socioeconomic, and health status factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation among family caregivers of patients with dementia.ResultsHealth check-up and cancer screening rates among family caregivers of patients with dementia were 68.7% and 61.4%, respectively, which were significantly lower than the rates for individuals who were not caregivers of patients with dementia. Those with lower education levels had lower odds ratios (OR) for both health check-up (OR: 0.60) and cancer screening (OR: 0.59) participation. In addition, symptoms of depression were associated with lower participation (health check-up OR: 0.67; cancer screening OR: 0.65).ConclusionsMore targeted disease prevention and management strategies must be developed for family caregivers of patients with dementia, particularly those with depressive symptoms and lower education levels.
Highlights
Providing care for patients with dementia can negatively influence the physical health and health behaviours of family caregivers
Examining health check-up rates and identifying factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation is important to promote informal caregivers’ effective participation in these health behaviours
Considering the growing number of patients with dementia and the consequent rise in the caregiving burden placed on their families, this study aimed to identify factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation among family caregivers of patients with dementia
Summary
Providing care for patients with dementia can negatively influence the physical health and health behaviours of family caregivers. This study aimed to identify factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation among family caregivers of patients with dementia. Health check-ups and cancer screenings are effective and essential health behaviours for detecting diseases early [16]. Family caregivers overlook community resources, do not access available resources, and are not aware of the best methods for using the resources that are available [17] They often neglect their health care needs while caring for a family member with an illness, leading to the deterioration of their health and well-being [18,19,20]. Increasing the rates of health check-ups among families providing informal care to patients with dementia is critical for enhancing their health and quality of life. Examining health check-up rates and identifying factors associated with health check-up and cancer screening participation is important to promote informal caregivers’ effective participation in these health behaviours
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