Waiting for lung transplantation: quality of life, mood, caregiving strain and benefit, and social intimacy of spouses

Authors: Rodrigue, James R.¹; Baz, Maher A.²

Source: Clinical Transplantation, Volume 21, Number 6, November/December 2007 , pp. 722-727(6)

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Abstract:

Rodrigue JR, Baz MA. Waiting for lung transplantation: quality of life, mood, caregiving strain and benefit, and social intimacy of spouses.

Clin Transplant 2007: 21: 722-727. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2007 Abstract: Background:

The emotional and physical well-being of lung transplant patients is enhanced by the availability and stability of a primary caregiver. Methods:

We describe the quality of life (QOL), mood, caregiving strain and benefits, and social intimacy of 73 lung transplant caregivers who completed the QOL Inventory, SF-36 Health Survey, Profile of Mood States, Caregiver Strain Index, Caregiver Benefit Index, and Miller Social Intimacy Scale. Results:

Clinically low QOL was reported by 17.8-35.6% of spouses. Relative to a normative sample, spouses reported significantly lower physical (z = 4.01, p < 0.001) and emotional (z = 7.01, p < 0.001) QOL. Over half (56.2%) had clinically elevated caregiving strain. Heightened physical strain (80.8%), inconvenience (79.5%), feeling confined (72.6%), feeling upset that patient has changed so much (69.9%) contributed most to caregiver strain, while discovering inner strength (60.3%), support from others (53.4%), and realizing what is important in life (42.5%) were noted caregiving benefits. Higher caregiving strain was associated with more mood disturbance (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), lower emotional QOL (r = −0.39, p < 0.002), lower social intimacy (r = −0.37, p < 0.002), and longer disease duration (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). Conclusion:

Spouses of patients awaiting lung transplantation may experience QOL deficits and high caregiver strain. Interventions to improve QOL and reduce caregiver strain are needed.

Keywords: caregiver; lung transplant; mood; quality of life; transplantation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0012.2007.00729.x

Affiliations: 1: The Transplant Center and the Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 2: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

Publication date: 2007-11-01

Waiting for lung transplantation: quality of life, mood, caregiving strain and benefit, and social intimacy of spouses

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