Quality of life of family caregivers of stroke patients

Background: The aim of the study was to determine quality of life of family caregivers of stroke patients and to identify the factors associated with quality of life. Material and methods: The research was planned as a cross sectional study. The study sample was recruited from the 75 stroke patients diagnosed at least 6 months earlier and their 75 family caregivers admitted to Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic at Inonu University. Family caregivers' quality of life were assessed with the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) v2. Stroke patients' functional disability was measured by the Functional Independence Measurement (FIM). Results: Our study included 75 patients (29 women and 46 men, aged 25-80 years, mean age 55.88±12.25) and 75 family caregivers (48 women and 27 men, aged 21-73 years, mean age 49.37±11.99). All SF-36 subscale scores were lower than Turkish norm values. A statistically significant positive correlation between FIM global, motor and cognitive scores and SF-36 subscale scores was observed. We found a statistically negative significant correlation between increasing age in family caregivers, aphasia of the patient and SF-36 subscale scores. Longer stroke duration was significantly associated with higher levels of SF-36 subscale scores. Conclusion: Stroke has a negative impact on quality of life of family caregivers. Caregivers' quality of life was positively affected by better functional status in patients.