Factors Influencing Dementia Caregivers' Health-related Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the health-related quality of life of caregivers for demented elders. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 170 pairs of demented elders and their caregivers. Socio-demographic characteristics of the demented elders and the caregivers, Barthel index and SF-36 were used in this study. Data analysis procedure included t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was 288.62 in norm-based scoring. The major factors that affect HRQoL of the demented elders' caregivers were burden, the age of the caregiver, ADL and gender of the demented elder, and these factors explained 34.5% of HRQoL. CONCLUSION: The factors significantly affecting the caregivers' HRQoL were burden, the age of the caregiver and ADL. The effective social support system should be considered in respective nursing interventions to decrease the level of burden and to increase HRQoL in demented elders' caregivers. Further studies and efforts will be needed to investigate preceding factors of burden and HRQoL.

Intervention Efficacy of Mother Training on Social Reciprocity for Children with Autism / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the efficacy of parent training interventions to facilitate social reciprocity and language development in children with autism. METHODS: The social interaction behaviors of mothers and children over time were compared using single subject design experimentation methodology. Five children who were diagnosed with autism and their mothers participated in the study. The participants were recruited from U city, Korea. The mothers were trained using training videotapes and demonstrations on how to facilitate social interaction with their children as well as promoting language development. Following the training, data were collected three times per week by video taping mother-child interaction in their homes. RESULTS: Four of the five mothers demonstrated increases in the use of imitation with animation and expectant waiting after the intervention compared to the baseline sessions; the children demonstrated noticeable increases in the use of initiation of interaction, vocalizations, and verbal production after their mothers received the training intervention. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of mother training to improve social interactions of children with autism. Additional important information can be gained by replicating this study with more participants and comparing intervention and control groups. Clearly, this intervention shows promise and has implications for clinical practice.