@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2008-2630    Iranian Journal of War & Public Health 2014;6(3):81-86

Background
Acceptance of hard physical disabilities from many spinal-injured persons is very important [4]. All the family members of the injured person are affected with the situation [1], and the caregivers’ general health and quality of life are influenced by such an injury [5], that may be caused by war [6].
Previous Studies
It has been shown that capability of anxiety and depression increases among the caregivers’ of a patient with spinal injuries, inside family [7], and such an experience in care for these patients can cause some problems concerning their families [1]. According to studies, psychological needs of the caregivers must be brought into account, since the family is responsible for care performance [10].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between general health and quality of life among caregivers of veterans with spinal injuries.
Research type
The method is correlation.
Research society, place and time
Caregivers of veterans with spinal injuries, referring to Ahwaz Boostan Hospital were studied.
Sampling method and number
90 persons were selected, using available sampling method.
Used devices&materials
Research tools were demographic variables form, general health, and quality of life questionnaires. Age, sex, marital status, relation with veteran, education level, and economic status were included in the demographic form. General health questionnaire contains 28 questions assessing four domains including “physical signs”, “anxiety”, “social performance”, and “depression”, respectively. (Each domain contains seven questions.) Answers are scored form “none” (zero score) to “very much” (3 scores), according to the Likert’s four-degree scale. Therefore, the total score’s range is varied from zero to 84, and the score’s range of each subscale is varied from zero to 21. Lower score showed a better general health status. The questionnaire’s reliability was estimated with 84% sensitivity, and 82% specificity, using meta-analysis in 34 studies [11]; and r=0.86 was obtained in this study, using Cronbach’s alpha method. Quality of life questionnaire constitute 36 questions, containing 8 subscales including “physical performance”, “physical role performance”, “emotional role performance”, “physical pain”, “social performance”, “mental health”, “vitality”, and “general health perception”. Some questions were responded as yes/no, some others were multi-choice or according to the Likert scale. The total score of quality of life varied between zero to 100. Higher score showed better quality of life. The questionnaire’s validity and reliability has been reported desirable in Iran [12-14]. In this study, questionnaire’s validity was obtained r=0.84, using retest method. Data were analyzed, using SPSS 16 software using Spearman Correlation Coefficient test, in order to determine the relation between “general health” and “quality of life” domains, and Chi-square test to determine the relation between the samples’ demographic characteristics with main variables of “general health” and “quality of life”.
Findings by Text
All veterans were male. 39 persons (43.3%) were living with their wives; 25 persons (27.8%) were in disengagement situation, 17 persons (18.9%) were bachelor, and wives of 9 persons (10.0%) were dead. 47 persons (52.2%) had flaccid quadric paralysis or quadriplegia, and 43 persons (47.8%) had paralysis of the lower limbs or paraplegia. Mean age of the veterans’ caregivers was39.1±7.8. 58 persons (64.4%) were female, and 72 persons (80.0%) were married. 39 persons (43.3%) were wives of the veterans, 30 persons (33.3%) were brothers of the veterans, 11 persons (12.3%) were sisters of the veterans, 8 persons (8.8%) were daughters of the veterans, and 2 persons (2.2%) were sons of the veterans. 18 persons (20.0%) had elementary education, 47 persons (52.2%) had high school diploma, and 25 persons (27.8%) had academic education. 5 persons (5.5%) were at low economic level, 79 persons (87.7%) were at average economic level, and 6 persons (6.7%) were at good economic level. There was no significant difference between the caregivers’ “quality of life” and “general health” with “age”, “sex”, “education”, “marital status”, “economic level”, “relation with the under-care person”, and “paralysis type of the under-care persons”. Average score of the care-givers’ general health was obtained57.5±5.6, and average score of life quality was obtained55.1±22.7. Maximum disorders of care-givers’ general health were observed at “anxiety”(93.1±2.2), “depression”(62.8±6.1), “social action”(37.1±8.1), and “physical signs”(37.1±6.2) subscales, respectively. Participants achieved higher scores at “physical role performance”(98.6±35.7), “physical performance”(86.7±24.2), and “vitality”(71.0±2.2), respectively. Maximum disorders were observed at their “general health perception”(87.2±31.0), “emotional role performance”(28.6±17.6), and “mental health”(29.6±17.7), respectively.There was a significant correlation between the scores of the caregivers’ general health and quality of life. There was a relation between physical signs with mental health, anxiety with physical performance, social performance with social and physical performance, and depression with physical performance by assessment the correlation between general health’s subscales with those of quality of life.
Main comparison to the similar studies
Caregivers of spinal-injured veterans were experienced the highest negative effect at anxiety and depression. Other studies have shown the existence of disorders in various dimensions of general health of the caregivers of spinal-injured veterans [15]. In addition, results of some other studies, showing a lower mental health level of the wives of the veterans than the wives of normal men [16], more mental tensions among the caregivers [10], disorders in general health [17], direct correlation between the caregivers’ psychological needs and their depression [18] and between the caregivers’ problem solving and their higher levels of psychological tensions [8], and an average compliance level with the patient’s disease among the caregivers of the spinal-injured patients [2], better scores concerning social action and emotional role performance gained by wives of the injured veterans than wives of the normal men [20], are consistent with the results of the present study. Some studies have not found any relation between the caregivers’ depression and life satisfaction [19], which is inconsistent with the results of the present study. In addition, results of some studies that have reported a lower psychological health among wives of the spinal-injured persons [16, 24], are not consistent with the results of the present study, which shows no relation between general health and care-givers’ quality of life.
Suggestions
It is suggested that, concerning results of some studies that show effectiveness of educational interventions on various features of the caregivers’ general health and quality of life, some interventions must be performed in order to promote general health and quality of life of the caregivers. In addition, it is suggested that more researches be conducted regarding correlation between the caregivers’ general health and quality of life with their demographic characteristics. Also, it is suggested that future studies to be conducted with a greater sample size. Concerning the fact that general health and quality of life of caregivers are influenced by various factors, and enhancement of mentioned variables needs interdisciplinary cooperation, so conducting an interdisciplinary study is suggested.
Limitations
This study limited to the caregivers of the spinal-injured veterans of Ahwaz, and generalize the findings should be done with caution.
Conclusions
Concerning the caregivers’ general health, maximum disorders are at “anxiety”, “depression”, “social performance”, and “physical signs”, respectively. Concerning the caregivers’ quality of life, maximum disorders are at “public health perception”, “emotional role performance”, and “mental health”. There is a correlation between the caregivers’ “general health” and “quality of life”. There is a correlation between some domains of general health with quality of life among the caregivers of the spinal-injured veterans.
Acknowledgments
The researcher of the study feels grateful to the officials of Ahwaz Boostan Hospital, and the veterans’ families.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Non-declared
Funding Sources
Non-declared

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