Time usage analysis according to occupational area and satisfaction level in family caregivers of dementia patients

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the difference between the family caregivers of dementia patients (hereafter referred to as dementia family) and the non-family caregivers of dementia patients (hereafter referred to as non-dementia family) in terms of time usage. METHODOLOGY: A total of 102 dementia families who responded to the ‘time use survey’ in 2019 were enrolled in the study. 101 non-dementia families include families who did not respond to the ‘dementia’ item, and simple random sampling was performed. Time usage according to occupational area and satisfaction level were analyzed based on the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework-Fourth Edition (OTPF-4). Statistical analyses were completed using IBM SPSS 25. The data was analyzed by using frequency analysis and independent two-sample t-test. A level of p < 0.05 was used as a cut-off for statistical significance. RESULTS: As for the time consumption by occupational area of dementia families and non-dementia families, dementia families spent more time than non-dementia families in instrumental daily life activities. The increase in the time for instrumental activities of daily living, including the time for caring for dementia patients, may lead to changes in time use for members of the family with dementia. By comparing the time usage by occupational area according to gender within the dementia families, it was possible to find out the difference between male and female instrumental daily activities and health care time use. The difference in time use according to gender showed that women took on more caring roles than men, and actually spent more time than men. CONCLUSION: The amount of time used between the dementia family and the non-dementia family differed according to the group and gender. These results suggest that dementia can cause changes in the time usage of dementia family. Therefore, this study recognizes the need for efficient use of time for dementia families and suggests that there is a need for a balanced use of time according to gender.