Real life experience of family caregivers among mild cognitive impairment patients during health care: a qualitative research

Abstract

Objective To explore the real life experience of family caregivers among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients during health care so as to provide a reference for reducing family caregivers burden. Methods From March 2017 to March 2018, we selected 18 family caregivers of community MCI patients in Department of Neurology, rehabilitation and memory outpatient at the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University as subjects by purposive sampling. Semi-structured interview, a phenomenological approach of qualitative research, was used to collect data, and Colazzi analysis was used to sort out, analyze data and refine theme. Results A total of four themes in real life experience of family caregivers of community MCI patients were extracted including family caregivers lacking knowledge about disease (fear, worry and stigma) , family caregivers being with high pressure during health care, compromising and confronting actively, expecting to seek more social supports (eager to learn disease-related knowledge, hope to get relatives' understanding and help, gain community supports and environmental supports) . Conclusions Community MCI health care brings negative influences on life of family caregivers. Medical staff, family members and community organization need to provide multi-path support to reduce mental pressure and social economic burden of family caregivers of community MCI patients so as to improve their quality of life. Key words: Cognition disorders; Social support; Alzheimer disease; Caregivers; Qualitative research; Life experience; Health care pressure