Educational Level Of Caregiver Research Articles

Supportive care needs and associated factors among caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer: a cross-sectional study

To assess the level of supportive care needs of caregivers of colorectal cancer patients and explore the related key influencing factors. Totaling 283 caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer were investigated in this study. Firstly, caregivers were invited to complete a set of questionnaires, including the general information questionnaire, the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners and the Caregivers of cancer patients, the Caregiver Preparedness Scale, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were performed to investigate the associated factors of supportive care needs. The caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer have a moderate level of needs, scored at 2.71 ± 0.42. Caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity were significantly negatively associated with the supportive care needs of caregivers (r = − 0.555, P < 0.001; r = − 0.534, P < 0.001; and r = − 0.615, P < 0.001, respectively). Our multivariate regression analysis identified some factors that directly affected the supportive care needs of caregivers, including the duration of illness, tumor stage, the age and educational level of caregivers, caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity (R2 = 0.574, F = 23.337, P < 0.001). Supportive care needs are common among caregivers of colorectal cancer patients. Higher caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity tend to ease these needs. Healthcare workers should have an in-depth understanding of the needs of caregivers of colorectal cancer patients and actively provide targeted financial/informational/technical/emotional support to promote nursing skills and reduce caregivers’ burdens.

Resilience Level of the Family Caregivers of the Elderly in Mashhad, Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background &amp; Aims Resilience is defined as a person’s ability to maintain psychological balance and recover from challenging conditions. Due to the very important role of family caregivers in the treatment of older patients with COVID-19, attention to their health and well-being has been increased. This study aims to determine the resilience level of the family caregivers of older people during COVID-19 pandemic in Mashahd, Iran. Materials &amp; Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 120 family caregivers of older people who referred to urban health centers in Mashhad, Iran. Sampling was done in using cluster random sampling method from April to June 2022. The instrument was a two-part questionnaire included demographic form (surveying age of the elderly and caregiver, gender of caregiver, educational level of caregiver, employment status of caregiver, marital status of caregiver, and the relation of caregiver with the elderly) and the Connor-Davidson resilience scale. Data analysis was done in SPSS v.23 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The mean age of family caregivers and elderly were 39.94±1.32 and 74.44±3.17 years, respectively. The age of caregivers ranged 20-74 years and the age of the elderly ranged 60-89 years. The mean resilience score of caregivers was 49.40±13.07, which is low. There was a significant relationship between resilience score and educational level (P&lt;0.05), marital status (P&lt;0.001) and employment status of family caregivers (P&lt;0.05). The correlation between resilience and caregiver’s age (r=0.17) and elderly’s age (r=0.13) was positive, but weak. Conclusion Family caregivers of the elderly in Mashhad city have low resilience. Their educational level, employment status, and marital status are related to their resilience level. Attention to these factors can help health care providers to develop plans for increasing their resilience and improving the quality of life of the elderly.

Factors Associated with Caregiver Burden in Caregivers of Older Patients with Dementia in Indonesia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify caregiver burden and its determinants in the informal caregivers of older patients with dementia (PWDs) aged ≥ 60 years in Java, Indonesia. Data were collected from 207 caregivers of older PWDs using self-administered questionnaires. The dependent variable was caregiver subjective burden, assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The independent variables included the socio-demographic characteristics of PWDs and caregivers, the caregiver’s perceived social support, and the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Linear regression with a stepwise elimination method was used to identify the factors associated with caregiver burden. This study found that four factors were associated with the caregiver burden, such as the gender of PWDs, the educational level of caregivers, social support, and BPSD (R-squared = 27.78%). Higher burden was reported among the caregivers of female PWDs (β = 5.58; 95%CI = 2.16; 8.99) and PWDs with higher scores of BPSD (β = 0.34; 95%CI = 0.25; 0.43). Meanwhile, the caregivers with higher perceived social support (β = −0.26; 95%CI = −0.42; −0.10) and who completed high school education and above (β = −6.41; 95%CI = −10.07; −2.74) tended to have lower scores of subjective burden. These findings suggest that BPSD management and maintaining the resources of support may provide an opportunity to minimise caregiver burden and improve the quality of life of caregivers and PWDs.

Helminthic infections among primary school children in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

Introduction: Helminthic infection (HI) is one of the neglected tropical diseases that affect the poorest and most deprived communities, affecting individuals of all ages. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors of HIs among primary schoolchildren in the rural and urban communities of Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional survey of 414 randomly selected pupils from six primary schools. Stool samples collected were processed using formol–ether concentration method. Pretested, interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess for relationship between infection and factors that significantly contribute to the transmission of HIs. Soil samples were also collected from different locations of the selected schools.Results: The overall prevalence of HIs was 45.4%. Hookworm was the most encountered parasite (57.4%); there were also mixed infections of Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm (8.5%) and hookworm and Trichuris trichiura (1.6%). The prevalence was more in males (46.7%), pupils aged 14–16 years (47.1%) and pupils residing in rural area (49.3%). There was significant relationship between age and hygienic practices of the pupils with HIs (P = 0.00 and 0.002, respectively). There was also significant relationship between marital status, educational level of caregivers and occupation of household heads of the pupils and HIs (P = 0.00, 0.00 and 0.00, respectively).Conclusion: The presence of viable HIs eggs/larvae in the soil suggests possible active transmission and high rate of exposure to infective agents among the schoolchildren. There is need for organised and routine deworming exercises among schoolchildren in the affected communities and also aggressive health education on the risk associated with HIs in the environment.

The association between family impact and health-related quality of life of children with idiopathic central precocious puberty in Chongqing, China

BackgroundIdiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) reduces patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The impacts of disease and treatment on families are also an important concern. This study aimed to assess the association between family impact and HRQoL of children with ICPP.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study in Chongqing, China. A case group of 134 children with ICPP aged 5–12 years and their caregivers was recruited from a children’s hospital in Chongqing. A total of 210 gender- and age-matched subjects from two primary schools were selected as controls. PedsQLTM4.0 Generic Core Scales (GCS) and PedsQL™ Family Impact Module (FIM) were used in this study.ResultsChildren with ICPP scored lower than controls in all HRQoL domains except physical functioning. In particular, the two groups were significantly different in emotional functioning scores (d = 0.414, P < 0.001). Compared with controls, ICPP families had lower scores in all dimensions of the FIM scale (d = 0.288–1.030, all P < 0.05). Factors associated with HRQoL of ICPP patients included: age of patients, type of medical treatment, employment status of caregivers, educational level of caregivers, parent HRQoL and family functioning (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsChildren with ICPP demonstrated lower quality of life and greater family impact compared to healthy controls. In addition, less impact of disease on parent HRQoL and family functioning was associated with better HRQoL of ICPP patients, patients aged older, treated with drug combination, cared by employed or well-educated caregivers reported better HRQoL. Health care professionals should pay more attention to younger patients treated with GnRHa alone, and provide targeted interventions for caregivers depending on their demographic background to reduce family impact and thereby improve patient HRQoL.

Silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from Parthenium hysterophorus leaves extract: larvicidal and antibacterial activities

Aim: The study was done to determine malaria prevention and treatment practices among care-givers of under-fives in urban slums South-East Nigeria. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study involving 145 care-givers of under-fives recruited via multistage sampling method using a semi-structured questionnaire in selected urban slums of Enugu north LGA of Enugu state. Results: The prevalence of Malaria prevention and treatment practice was 19.3% and 17% respectively. Association between the age group of the under-five and the malaria prevention practice was (p=0.034) while the associations between the age of care-givers’ spouse, educational level of caregivers’ spouse and malaria treatment practice in under five was also statistically significant with p-values of 0.003 and 0.047 respectively. Conclusion: Malaria prevention and treatment practice among care-givers of the under-fives was low. Hence, the need for the government, non-governmental organizations and health care workers to collaborate so as to improve malaria outcome in the Nigeria society.

Magnitude and Associated Factors of Non-Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy among Children in Fiche Hospital, North Shewa, Ethiopia, 2016

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) increases the length of life, quality of life and productivity of people living with HIV/ AIDS. However, the effectiveness of ART relies on strict adherence to it though such data are lacking in the study area. The objective of this study is to assess non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment and associated factors among children living with HIV/AIDS in Fiche Hospitals, North Shewa, and Ethiopia. Institutional based crosssectional study design involving 120 participants (patients and their caregivers) was conducted from May to August, 2016. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaires. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 software packages. Descriptive data was generated and placed in terms of frequency and percentage. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to estimate association between variables. Findings were presented using tables, graphs and figures. In this study, the overall prevalence of non-adherence was 35.8%. Most frequently identified reason of missing their dose was forgetting (44.2%). Age of the child, educational level of caregivers, occupational status of the caregiver and World Health Organization disease stages of the child were significantly associated with non-adherence. Adherence level obtained in the study was lower than what is recommended by World Health Organization which is greater than 95%. Forgetfulness was most frequently mentioned barrier of adherence. Effective work need to be done to optimize adherence to antiretroviral therapy in order to make children fully benefit from their medication.

Adaptive functioning and its correlates after intestine and liver transplantation

In this cross-sectional study, we compared levels of adaptive functioning and examined potential correlates of adaptive functioning in 18 pediatric intestine (ITX) and 22 liver (LTX) recipients transplanted between June 2003 and March 2009. Family caregivers completed the ABAS-II scale and provided socio-demographic information regarding recipients' age at transplantation, gender, ethnicity, time since transplantation, and caregivers' role, ethnicity, education, and family income. Overall adaptive functioning and all three adaptive functioning subdomain scores were significantly lower in ITX patients compared with LTX patients (p ≤ 0.04) and compared with the general population normative mean (p ≤ 0.003). Significant correlates of adaptive functioning after abdominal transplant included type of transplant procedure (r = -0.4, p = 0.02), gender (r = 0.4, p = 0.01), and educational level of caregiver (r = 0.5, p = 0.003) and together explained 45% of the variance in overall adaptive functioning. Findings provide new information regarding everyday functioning outcomes of ITX patients, add to existing data regarding non-medical outcomes for LTX patients, and highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and intervention following transplantation to enhance outcomes.

Use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets for children under five years in an urban area of Lagos State, Nigeria

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have proven to be one of the most effective means of reducing malaria morbidity and mortality in children and pregnant women. This study is carried out to determine the practice and determinants of ITN use for children under five years among care givers in an urban area of Lagos State. A community-based, cross sectional study was carried out in Lagos State in April 2007 among three hundred and forty (340) care givers primarily responsible for child care at home. They were selected by a multi-stage sampling method using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire. ITN use rate for under-fives was high (61.8%) and this was significantly determined by care giver's marital status (P < 0.001) and the number of children under five years in the household (P = 0.006). Educational level of care giver and occupation of head of the household were not significant determinants. There is need for health campaigns on ITNs targeted at unmarried care givers of young children. In addition, we also recommend social marketing of modern family planning methods to reduce family size, thereby increasing chances of ITN use among children less than five years to reduce malaria burden.

Lead poisoning associated with malaria in children of urban areas of Nigeria

The principal objectives of this study are to (a) investigate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in children of three major cities of Nigeria with different levels of industrial pollution; (b) identify the environmental, social and behavioral risk factors for the EBLLs in the children; and (c) explore the association between malaria (endemic in the study areas) and EBLLs in the pediatric population. The study involved 653 children aged 2-9 years (average, 3.7 years). The mean blood lead level (BLL) for the children was 8.9+/-4.8microg/dL, the median value was 7.8microg/dL, and the range was 1-52microg/dL. About 25% of the children had BLL greater than 10microg/dL. There were important differences in BLLs across the three cities, with the average value in Ibadan (9.9+/-5.2microg/dL) and Nnewi (8.3+/-3.5microg/dL) being higher than that in Port Harcourt (4.7+/-2.2micro/dL). Significant positive associations were found between BLL and a child's town of residence (p<0.001), age of the child (p=0.004), length of time the child played outside (p<0.001), presence of pets in a child's home (p=0.023), but negatively with educational level of caregiver (p<0.001). This study is one of the first to find a significant negative association between BLL and malaria in a pediatric population, and this association remained significant after controlling for confounding diseases and symptoms. The shared environmental and socio-demographic risks factors for lead exposure and Plasmodium (most common malaria parasites) infection in urban areas of Nigeria are discussed along with possible ways that lead exposure may influence the host response to infection with malarial parasites.