Association of quality of life of carers with quality of life and functional independence of stroke survivors

BACKGROUND: Stroke has a great impact not only on patients’ but also on their caregivers’ lives. Carers may experience high levels of burden that can result in deterioration of their health status, social life, and well-being. Association between quality of life (QOL) of carers and that of stroke survivors in Indian setting is not much researched. AIMS AND SETTINGS: To find out QOL and mental health of caregivers of individuals with stroke visiting Physiotherapy Department of Tertiary Care Center in Western India. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey to find QOL and mental health of caregiver of stroke survivors, self-administered screening instrument WHO-QOL BREF, functional independence measurement (FIM) scale, and BRIEF COPE were used for data collection on adult populations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was performed by descriptive analysis and correlation. RESULT: Fifty-four stroke patients and their caregivers (all adults) were included in the study. Average FIM score was 83.75 (18.46) while median was 90 (25). FIM score of patients did not much affect QOL of caregivers. DISCUSSION: Analysis of QOL data showed that QOL of caregivers was good in all domains, but patient's QOL was good only in social relations. There was no correlation found in QOL of carers and stroke survivors. Nine percent of change in caregivers social relationship scores can be attributed to patients’ sphincter scores. CONCLUSION: QOL of carers and stroke survivors may be independent. Stroke patients in the study required a moderate assistance for their functional independence which does not seem to affect the caregivers QOL significantly.