<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction</bold>: Quality of life is a multidimensional concept and a subjective value that depends on many factors. Disability caused by sight loss induces changes for both patients and their carers. The function of a blind person’s carer is usually performed by family members, whose limited knowledge limits their ability to help effectively and satisfactorily. This, in turn, may lead to their reduced sense of the quality of life.
The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of blind people’s carers.
<bold>Materials and methods</bold>: The study was conducted September– October 2016 and involved 130 blind peoples’ carers using a diagnostic poll. Short Form Survey SF-36 and a specially designed questionnaire were used. The majority of participants were women (69.23%), married couples (63.1%), with high school education (40.77%).
<bold>Results</bold>: Wellbeing self-assessment indicated that 36.15% of carers considered their mental condition to have worsened, while 43.08% remained at the same level when compared to 1 year earlier. Analysis of quality of life showed that carers very highly rated their physical functioning 59.46 ±26.35; social functioning 57.4 ±26.12; vitality 55.48 ±23.27; and emotional functioning 54.81 ±29.24.
<bold>Conclusions</bold>: Quality of life tends to gradually deteriorate as the carers grow older. The carer’s educational background and the professional activity of the disabled person influence the assessment of the carer’s quality of life.
</abstract>

Introduction: Quality of life is a multidimensional concept and a subjective value that depends on many factors. Disability caused by sight loss induces changes for both patients and their carers. The function of a blind person’s carer is usually performed by family members, whose limited knowledge limits their ability to help effectively and satisfactorily. This, in turn, may lead to their reduced sense of the quality of life.
The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of blind people’s carers.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted September– October 2016 and involved 130 blind peoples’ carers using a diagnostic poll. Short Form Survey SF-36 and a specially designed questionnaire were used. The majority of participants were women (69.23%), married couples (63.1%), with high school education (40.77%).
Results: Wellbeing self-assessment indicated that 36.15% of carers considered their mental condition to have worsened, while 43.08% remained at the same level when compared to 1 year earlier. Analysis of quality of life showed that carers very highly rated their physical functioning 59.46 ±26.35; social functioning 57.4 ±26.12; vitality 55.48 ±23.27; and emotional functioning 54.81 ±29.24.
Conclusions: Quality of life tends to gradually deteriorate as the carers grow older. The carer’s educational background and the professional activity of the disabled person influence the assessment of the carer’s quality of life.

Quality of life of blind people’s carers

Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin

Doctoral Studies of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Special Nursing

Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Quality of life of blind people\u2019s carers"}

Introduction: Quality of life is a multidimensional concept and a subjective value that depends on many factors. Disability caused by sight loss induces...

Quality of life of blind people’s carers

Publicado en línea: 18 sept 2020

Páginas: 43 - 48

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.467

Palabras clave
quality of life, carers, blind people

© 2020 Łukasz Lewandowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Quality of life of blind people’s carers

Publicado en línea: 18 sept 2020

Páginas: 43 - 48

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.467

Palabras clavequality of life, carers, blind people

© 2020 Łukasz Lewandowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
quality of life, carers, blind people