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. 2019 Jun;54(2):137-143.
doi: 10.5045/br.2019.54.2.137. Epub 2019 Jun 25.

Comparison of quality of life and depression between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors and their spouse caregivers

Silvia Park  1   2 , Eun-Kyung Choi  3 , Im-Ryung Kim  3 , Juhee Cho  3   4   5 , Jun Ho Jang  6
Affiliations

Comparison of quality of life and depression between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors and their spouse caregivers

Silvia Park et al. Blood Res. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an exhausting process that impacts both the patient and caregiver.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, HSCT survivor-spouse caregiver matching study to determine quality of life (QoL) and depression among HSCT survivors and their caregivers. QoL and depression were measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life: Brief Version (26 items) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. Data from 97 married couples were analyzed.

Results: There were no significant differences in overall QoL and psychological, social, and environmental health between survivors and spouse caregivers (P=0.345, 0.424, 0.415, and 0.253); however, physical QoL was better in the spouse caregiver group (P=0.011). There was no difference in mean depression scale scores (5.3 vs. 5.1, P=0.812) or proportion of severe depression (15.6% vs. 13.7%, P=0.270) between the two groups. We found that family income had a significant impact on overall QoL and environmental health among spouse caregivers (P=0.013 and 0.023), and female gender, co-morbidities, and family income were the important factors associated with depression among spouse caregivers (P=0.007, 0.017 and 0.049).

Conclusion: This study found that there were no significant differences in QoL or level of depression between HSCT survivors and their spouse caregivers. Family income, gender, and co-morbidities showed significant association with spouse caregiver distress.

Keywords: Caregiver; Depression; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Quality of life; Survivor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors' Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest: No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flow diagram of subject enrollment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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