Carers' knowledge of dementia, their coping strategies and morbidity
C. Graham
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
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| Omfang | Side 931- 936
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| Opplysninger | Objective. The main hypothesis was that carers of dementia suffererswho have a higher level of knowledge on the subject of dementia havelower rates of physical and psychological morbidity. We also wantedto examine whether a carer's level of knowledge bears any relation totheir attributional style and coping mechanisms.Design. Informal carers, caring for patients who fulfilled the CAMDEXcriteria for mild or moderate dementia, were approached toparticipate in the study.Setting. Old age psychiatry services in the West Midlands andBristol.Participants. Informal carers, caring for relatives with dementia.Measures. Trained researchers administered the Geriatric Mental StateSchedule, the Dementia Knowledge Questionnaire, the PennebakerInventory of Limbic Languidness (an inventory of common physicalsymptoms) and the Carer Stress Scale.Results. More knowledgeable carers experienced significantly lowerlevels of depression but also higher rates of anxiety. Carers' levelof knowledge on the subject of dementia showed no association withtheir physical health. More knowledgeable carers were more likely tohave 'reduced expectations' of their dependants' abilities and make'positive comparisons'; they were also more likely to feel competentand confident as carergivers,Conclusion. The findings support the main hypothesis when consideringcarers' rates of depression but not when considering rates of anxietyor physical ill-health. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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| Emner |
