Memory and behavior-related problems of patients with neurocognitive disorders and the attitudes of their caregivers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the memory and behavior-related problems of patients with neurocognitive disorders and the attitudes of their caregivers so as to provide an effective basis for nursing interventions against such problems.

Methods: The subjects were selected from patients who were under treatment or short-term hospitalization between April 2011 and March 2012. One hundred fifty-three patients with neurocognitive disorders and their major caregivers were selected from 9 Grade 3 Class A hospitals of Hunan Province. The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) was used to measure the memory and behavior-related problems of patients with neurocognitive disorders and the influence on their caregivers. The occurrence of different memory and behavior-related problems and the distress on their caregivers was compared.

Results: The RMBPC investigation showed that among 153 patients and their caregivers, 152 (99.3%) had memory-related problems, 137 (89.5%) had depression, and 136 patients (88.9%) had destructive behaviors. The incidence of memory-related problems was higher than depression and destructive behaviors (P<0.01). Caregivers bore more distress when encountering destructive behaviors (1.95±1.13 points) than memory-related problems and depression (0.91±0.76 points and 0.89±0.85 points; P<0.01). Curve fitting was used to analyze the relationship between the number of memory and behavior-related problems and the distress on their caregivers. A curve correlation existed between the two factors (the recorded maximum value of the Cubic equation curve was 0.278, F=229.212, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Among patients with neurocognitive disorders, memory-related problems had the highest incidence, while the caregivers bore the strongest distress when encountering destructive behaviors, thus interventions should be conducted in consideration of patient memory and behavior-related problems, and caregivers’ attitude to further reduce caregiver burden.