Key result
Caregivers of cardiac surgical patients reported significant improvements in five out of eight health-related quality of life dimensions between 6 weeks and 6 months post-discharge (P<0.05).
Why the study?
Changes in health-related quality of life and support needs of caregivers of cardiac surgical patients over time were not well characterized.
Observational (n=96)
No
p-value: p=<0.05
Carers of cardiac surgical patients experience significant improvements in multiple dimensions of health-related quality of life and a decreased need for support from 6 weeks to 6 months post-discharge.
Caregivers may show continued HRQoL recovery beyond 6 weeks; leaves open need for interventional trials to guide support.
In this descriptive, repeated-measures study, we assessed changes in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of cardiac surgical patients' caregivers over time and their need for support. Ninety-six primary carers of cardiac patients who had received elective surgery at one tertiary referral hospital were recruited. The majority were female spouses of patients who had undergone bypass and/or cardiac valve surgery. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included the SF-36v2 quality of life health survey and asked about their need for support 6 weeks and 6 months following patient discharge. Carers reported a significant improvement in five out of eight HRQL dimensions (Physical functioning, Physical role, Vitality, Social functioning, Role-emotional) over the study period (P < 0.05). Those who completed the survey at 6 weeks but not 6 months reported higher scores across all dimensions. Carers' need for support need was higher at 6 weeks than 6 months.
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Robinson et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Caregivers of cardiac surgical patients (n=96). Caregiving for cardiac surgical patients was evaluated on Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) dimensions and need for support (p=<0.05). Caregivers of cardiac surgical patients reported significant improvements in five out of eight health-related quality of life dimensions between 6 weeks and 6 months post-discharge (P<0.05).
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