ASSESSING AND PREDICTING QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM END STAGE RENAL DISEASE UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS: THE CASE OF YANGON, MYANMAR

Abstract

Diminishing quality of life of caregivers could increase their pressures, burdens and interfere with their quality services. The aim of this study is to determine the factors predicting the QoL of the caregivers who took care of end stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis people. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 210 caregivers providing services to patients suffering from end stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis in Yangon, Myanmar. Purposive sampling was performed to selection the participants and the data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires. Hierarchical linear regression was performed with the QoL as dependent variable and three blocks of predictors (the first block; burden, the second block; caregiver's age and monthly family income, and the third block; marital status and relationships with patients). The study found that caregiver’s burden and age negatively and significantly affected the QoL whereas monthly family income positively affected the QoL. The best model was [Quality of life = ?0 + ?1 (level of burden) + ?2 (caregiver’s age) + ?3 (caregiver’s monthly family income)] where ?0, ?1, ?2 and ?3 were 98.135, (-0.395), (-0.149) and 0.010 respectively. The health professionals, related government agencies, communities, and health related officers should develop the proper strategies and programs for improving the QoL of caregivers.