Burden and Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients.

The purpose of this study was to identify the level of burden and quality of life of family caregivers of stroke patients and to investigate the correlation between burden, quality of life (including physical, social, psychological, and environmental domains), age of caregivers, and the care period. A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was performed, with a convenience sample of family caregivers (n = 30) of stroke patients in São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using a questionnaire on participants' characteristics, the Zarit Burden Interview Scale (ZBIS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. A descriptive analysis was performed, and correlations between variables were analyzed using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. The average burden score on the ZBIS was 29.6, representing a moderate burden, and the average overall quality of life score on the WHOQOL-BREF was 62.06%, which indicates moderate quality of life. A significant weak negative correlation was observed between burden and environmental domains (r = -0.470; p =.009), quality of life (r = -0.414; p =.023), and physical domains (r = -0.394; p =.031). No significant correlations were found between burden and quality of life, and variables in the psychological and social domains, age of caregivers, or care period. Caregivers for stroke patients presented with moderate levels of burden and reduction in quality of life. Levels of burden correlated negatively with environmental domains, quality of life levels, and physical domains; however, these correlations were weak, indicating the possible interference of other factors.

Personas con discapacidad y sus roles ocupacionales: trabajo, familia, independencia y participación social / Occupational roles of people with disabilities: work, family, independence and social participation

Este estudio se propone describir las necesidades cotidianas y los roles ocupacionales de un grupo de personas adultas y ancianas con discapacidad en una ciudad de medio porto del Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Metodológicamente, se seleccionaron dieciséis usuarios con una edad media de 61,7 años y desviación estándar de 17,2 años, con discapacidad física y/o sensorial, con excepción de personas con alteraciones en el lenguaje oral y/o alteraciones cognitivas. Los instrumentos utilizados para recolectar datos fueron el Mini Examen del Estado Mental (para seleccionar la muestra sin alteraciones cognitivas), el Listado de Roles y una guía de entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados: predominan ancianos de género femenino entre las personas con discapacidad física (n=10). Las entrevistas refieren que las relaciones de trabajo y funciones familiares son roles importantes, seguidos del deseo de independencia para realizar otras actividades como las de ocio, servicios domésticos y participación social. Conclusión: la investigación evidenció la importancia de mirar los roles ocupacionales en la vida cotidiana, entendiendo que la ampliación de protagonismo de las personas en su desempeño ocupacional puede favorecer su salud y el aumento de su vida social.

The objective of this study is to describe the everyday needs and occupational roles of adults and old adults with disabilities in a medium port city of the Sao Paulo provincy, Brazil. Method: sixteen adults and older adults age mean 61.7 an standard deviation 17.2 participated in this study. Those selected were people with physical and/ or sensory impairment, to the exclusion of people with alterations in verbal and / or cognitive impairments. The instruments used for data collection were the Mini Mental State Examination (as a criteria to exclude subjects with cognitive imnpairments), the Role Checklist and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed the predominance of elderly females among people with disabilities (n = 10). The interviews showed labor relations and family functions as important roles, followed by the desire for independence in carrying out other activities such as leisure, housework and greater social participation. Conclusion: The research highlighted the importance of looking at the occupational roles of people with disabilities in their daily lives, understanding that the expansion of the role of these people in their occupational performance can promote good health and increased participation in social life.

Associations among occupational roles, independence, assistive technology, and purchasing power of individuals with physical disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: to verify whether there are associations among occupational roles, independence to perform Activities of Daily Living, purchasing power, and assistive technology for individuals with physical disabilities. METHOD: 91 individuals with physical disabilities participated in the study. The instruments used were: Role Checklist, Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion, Barthel Index, and a Questionnaire to characterize the subjects. RESULTS: an association with a greater number of roles was found among more independent individuals using a lower number of technological devices. Higher purchasing power was associated with a lower functional status of dependence. CONCLUSION: even though technology was not directly associated with independence, the latter was associated with a greater number of occupational roles, which requires reflection upon independence issues when considering the participation in occupational roles. These findings support interdisciplinary actions designed to promote occupational roles in individuals with physical disabilities.