Life satisfaction and strain among informal caregivers of patients with traumatic brain injury in Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to determine the life satisfaction and strain on informal caregivers when caring for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and to examine the factors predicting the level of strain among the informal caregivers.

Method: A cross-sectional survey on a purposive sampling was performed in a single centre in Malaysia recruiting caregivers of patients with TBI. Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-9 and Caregiver Strain Index questionnaires were used to ascertain the life satisfaction and strain of caregivers respectively. Relationship between life satisfaction and strain was analysed, together with factors significantly associated with strain.

Results: A total of 141 caregivers (77.3% women, average age of 46.1 years ±12.8 and mean duration of caregiving of 24.8 months ± 14.3) were included in the analysis. Most caregivers (75%) were satisfied with their lives but more than half claimed to have strain (57%). There was a significant relationship between life satisfaction and strain among the caregivers (p < 0.001). From a multiple linear regression analysis, a caregiver’s monthly income of less than RM3000 (OR 6.48, 95% CI 1.48–28.40, p = 0.04), presence of patient’s neurobehavioural disturbances (OR 4.48, 95% CI 1.60–12.55, p = 0.004) and cognitive dysfunctions (OR 31.72, 95% CI 10.27–97.96, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of caregiver’s strain.

Conclusion: Caregivers with lower monthly income and caring for TBI patients with cognitive and neurobehavioural disturbances are at higher risk of developing strain. Rehabilitation interventions post-discharge should aim at supporting the caregivers at risk.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Informal caregivers of patients with traumatic brain injury who are not satisfied with their lives are most likely experiencing strain.

• Caregivers in Malaysia who are at high risk of experiencing strain are those with lower monthly income and care for patients with significant cognitive and neurobehavioural disturbances.

• Efforts to reduce strain in caregivers at risk should be included in the post-discharge rehabilitation programme in Malaysia.

Keywords:

• Burden
• caregivers
• life satisfaction
• rehabilitation
• strain
• traumatic brain injury

Declaration of interest

This study was supported in part by the postgraduate research fund from University of Malaya awarded to one of the authors, MM (No. P0033 2013A). The investigators had full access to the data, and the final responsibility for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication, statistical support and data analysis.