Caregiving burden and quality of life of pneumoconiosis caregivers in Hong Kong

Objective sis is the most common type of pneumoconiosis in Hong Kong. This study explored the clinical correlates of the caregiving burden and quality of life (QOL) among pneumoconiosis caregivers in Hong Kong. s udy sample included 112 patients with pneumoconiosis and their caregivers. Caregiving burden was measured using the Caregiving Burden Scale (CBS), and caregiversʹ QOL was assessed using the physical and mental components (PCS and MCS, respectively) of the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36. Pearsonʹs correlation coefficient and Spearmanʹs ρ were calculated to examine the relationship between CBS, PCS, and MCS scores and caregiversʹ and patientsʹ sociodemographic variables. Stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the independent correlates of CBS, PCS, and MCS scores. s ving burden was correlated with certain patient characteristics (duration of disease, severity of dyspnea, exercise tolerance, depressive symptoms, daily functioning, and community living skills) and with caregiversʹ variables (depressive symptoms and availability of family support). Regression analysis showed that patientsʹ daily functioning (β = −.345), caregiversʹ depressive symptoms (β = .509), and the availability of family support (β = .240) were independent correlates of caregiving burden, explaining 45% of the variance. The independent correlates of PCS included patientsʹ severity of coexisting diseases (β = −.179) and caregiversʹ depressive symptoms (β = −.521). Both patientsʹ (β = −.155) and caregiversʹ (β = −.633) depressive symptoms and patientsʹ severity of dyspnea (β = −.183) were independent correlates of the MCS. sion for pneumoconiosis patients entails a significant caregiving burden for caregivers, and adversely affects their QOL. Caregiversʹ depressive symptoms are related to both their caregiving burden and QOL.