Caregiver burden, mental health, quality of life and self-efficacy of family caregivers of persons with dementia in Malaysia: baseline results of a psychoeducational intervention study.

BACKGROUND: The majority of persons with dementia (PWD) are mainly cared for by their family members in the home. Evidence is however scarce on family caregivers' psychosocial burden and quality of life in Asian countries including Malaysia. This study describes the baseline data of a telephone-delivered psychoeducational intervention study and examines the determinants of outcome measures (caregiver burden, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life and caregiving self-efficacy) among Malaysian family caregivers to PWD. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study originated from the baseline survey of a randomized control trial of 121 family caregivers recruited from lists of PWD who were registered at memory and psychiatry clinics in three tertiary care hospitals in Malaysia. The participants were assessed for caregiver burden by the Zarit Burden Interview, depressive and anxiety symptoms by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life by the Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization, and Pleasure Scale, and caregiving self-efficacy by the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy. RESULTS: Prevalence of caregiver burden was 69.4%, depressive symptoms 32.2% and anxiety symptoms 32.2%. Family caregivers to PWD having perceived peer support e.g., social/family/friend/significant other supports were less likely to report caregiver burden, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and more likely to report higher levels of quality of life and caregiving self-efficacy. Being married and PWD's ability to self-care were associated with lesser likelihood of experiencing caregiver burden, depressive and anxiety symptoms. The other determinants of greater probability of reporting better quality of life were caregivers' employment and having Islamic faith. Marital status (married), PWD's ability to self-care, spousal relationship with PWD and shared caregiving process were associated with higher likelihood of reporting caregiving self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden, depressive and anxiety symptoms are prevalent in family caregivers to PWD in Malaysia. Social support and caregiving related factors influence family caregivers' quality of life and caregiving self-efficacy. Implementing psychoeducational intervention and support in the psychiatry and memory clinics may help improve the psychosocial burden, quality of life and caregiving self-efficacy in family caregivers of PWD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN14565552 (retrospectively registered).

Effect of biofeedback training on operator's cognitive performance.

BACKGROUND: Predominantly cognitive tasks assigned to the shop floor can lead to decreased cognitive functions problems, thereby increasing occupational accident risks. A potential approach to prevent such circumstances is by improving operator's cognitive performance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training could improve cognitive performance among electronic manufacturing's operators. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects consisted of 36 female operators who were randomly assigned as the experimental (n=19), and control group (n=17). METHOD: The experimental participants received five session of weekly HRV biofeedback training of 30-50 minutes each. Physiological stress profiles and cognitive performance were assessed at pre and post-intervention. RESULTS: Significant group x time effects were observed for attention and memory (p< 0.01) but not present for cognitive flexibility. Significant higher total spectrum HRV and low frequency (LF) power also occurred during biofeedback sessions, in addition to slower respiration rate. Physiological stress profile showed that the biofeedback participants were able to increase their LF activity at baseline, stressor, and recovery periods from pre to post. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates potential application of HRV biofeedback for operator's performance enhancement, associated with increases in HRV.

Resonant breathing biofeedback training for stress reduction among manufacturing operators.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of resonant breathing biofeedback training for reducing stress among manufacturing operators. Resonant breathing biofeedback works by teaching people to recognize their involuntary heart rate variability and to control patterns of this physiological response. Thirty-six female operators from an electronic manufacturing factory were randomly assigned as the experimental group (n = 19) and the control group (n = 17). The participants of the intervention received 5 weekly sessions of biofeedback training. Physiological stress profiles and self-perceived depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Results indicated that depression, anxiety, and stress significantly decreased after the training in the experimental group; they were supported by a significant increase in physiological measures. Overall, these results support the potential application of resonant biofeedback training to reduce negative emotional symptoms among industrial workers.