Article
Carer quality of life reduced in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM)
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Published: | June 9, 2017 |
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Objectives: DCM can leave patients with permanent disability and reliant on others for support. The impact of the disease on their carers is unknown. This project used the Care Related Quality of Life (CarerQol) instrument to measure this.
Methods: An internet-based survey was conducted. Self-reported carers of patients with DCM were recruited using Social Media, Google Adwords® and the Myelopathy.org community. CarerQol 7D (burden) and VAS (happiness) scores, alongside patient (including Nurick disease severity and pain scores) and carer demographics were collected (N=110). Missing data analysis was performed. Full survey responses (N=49) were analysed. Correlations (Spearman’s rho) and between group differences (one-way ANOVA) were performed (p<0.05).
Results: Mean CarerQol-7D was 64.7 +/- 20.7. Mean CarerQol-VAS was 6.20 +/- 2.30. Carers reported financial (47%), own mental (73%) or physical health (69%) consequences. Disease characteristics correlated weakly with carer burden (Nurick r = .26, p = .073 and limb pain (r = .13, p = .390)) and carer happiness (Nurick r = -.12, p = .428). Age, gender and length of time caring did not influence CarerQol measures.
Conclusions: Carer quality of life is affected by DCM. Whilst current participant numbers hinder statistical significance and limit the strength of conclusions, patient disease characteristics may not explain the reduced CarerQol. Further study, including focus on carer characteristics is required to elucidate the widely unappreciated consequences of informal care provision.