Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of self-stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system on immune function and DNA repair function in family caregivers. Seven female family caregivers engaged in individually tailored stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system in everyday life for 2 weeks. Although we observed effects on lymphocyte function and secretory immunoglobulin A concentration in saliva compared with the control period, there was no effect on DNA repair function.
Highlights
According to a report from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, with the aging of the population, the number of people needing long-term care, including those with dementia or intractable diseases, is increasing every year
The focus of the present study was to clarify the effect of nursing intervention for 2 weeks on immune function and DNA repair function in family caregivers
The validity of the method of stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system was confirmed with the heart rate variability (HRV) data and the blood pressure data
Summary
According to a report from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, with the aging of the population, the number of people needing long-term care, including those with dementia or intractable diseases, is increasing every year. The number of people who use the public care insurance system is increasing (more than 5 million people in 2011). The use of home care services is rising. As the number of people who require home care has increased, the number of family caregivers has likely increased. The family caregiver’s burden may have become heavier because of the rise in the percentage of patients who require high-level medical care in association with advances in medicine, the shortening average length of hospital stays, and improvement in home environments. Tsuboi and Murakami [1] reported that family caregivers who performed home care for more than 3 years have a significantly higher feeling of caregiver burden compared to for less than 3 years. Prolonged home care may to lead an increase in caregiver stress
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