Longitudinal changes on the quality of life in caregivers of type 2 diabetes amputee patients

Abstract

To explore changes in the quality of life of caregivers of amputees due to type 2 diabetes ten months after amputation. Methods: This is a longitudinal study with three moments of evaluation (T1: one month after surgery, T2: 7 months, T3: 10 months). The sample comprised 110, 101, and 84 caregivers of amputated patients with type 2 diabetes. Caregivers answered a Socio-demographic questionnaire; the Self-Assessment Caregiver; the Family Disruption from Illness Scale; and the Short Form Health Survey (SF36). Results: Stress levels were not significantly reflected in changes on mental quality of life over time, except in the caregivers who presented less stress, emphasizing the adverse role of stress when experienced on a continuous basis for ten months on the caregivers’ mental well-being. Caregivers presented greater number of physical symptoms at T2 that decreased at T3. Conclusions: According to the results, in order to promote caregivers’ physical and mental quality of life, it would be important to evaluate stress levels especially in patients who presented somatic complaints.