BACKGROUND: Quality of Life (QoL) is a key outcome in dementia. AIM: To compare care recipients' (CR) and caregivers' (CG) views on CRs' QoL and identify determinants. METHODS: CRs and CGs completed the Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one CR/CG dyads were interviewed. There were differences between determinants of the CRs and CGs views about QoL. Family-CGs rated CRs' QoL higher when CRs had fewer depressive symptoms, less irritability, less apathy, less daily living impairment and lived at home. Fewer depressive symptoms, living at home and taking acetylcholinesterase-inhibitors (AChEI) predicted higher CR rated QoL. CONCLUSION: Proxy ratings in dementia do not replicate CRs' views of QoL. This is the first study to employ a validated QoL measure for people with dementia taking AChEIs. Randomised controlled trials are needed before drawing conclusions about their effect on QoL. Interpretation of correlations between QoL and symptoms should be cautious as QoL is designed to reflect the impact of psychological and physical symptoms. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BACKGROUND: Quality of Life (QoL) is a key outcome in dementia. AIM: To compare care recipients' (CR) and caregivers' (CG) views on CRs' QoL and identify determinants. METHODS:CRs and CGs completed the Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one CR/CG dyads were interviewed. There were differences between determinants of the CRs and CGs views about QoL. Family-CGs rated CRs' QoL higher when CRs had fewer depressive symptoms, less irritability, less apathy, less daily living impairment and lived at home. Fewer depressive symptoms, living at home and taking acetylcholinesterase-inhibitors (AChEI) predicted higher CR rated QoL. CONCLUSION: Proxy ratings in dementia do not replicate CRs' views of QoL. This is the first study to employ a validated QoL measure for people with dementia taking AChEIs. Randomised controlled trials are needed before drawing conclusions about their effect on QoL. Interpretation of correlations between QoL and symptoms should be cautious as QoL is designed to reflect the impact of psychological and physical symptoms. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors: Gary Naglie; David B Hogan; Murray Krahn; B Lynn Beattie; Sandra E Black; Chris Macknight; Morris Freedman; Christopher Patterson; Michael Borrie; Howard Bergman; Anna Byszewski; David Streiner; Jane Irvine; Paul Ritvo; Janna Comrie; Matthew Kowgier; George Tomlinson Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Gary Naglie; David B Hogan; Murray Krahn; Sandra E Black; B Lynn Beattie; Christopher Patterson; Chris Macknight; Morris Freedman; Michael Borrie; Anna Byszewski; Howard Bergman; David Streiner; Jane Irvine; Paul Ritvo; Janna Comrie; Matthew Kowgier; George Tomlinson Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 4.105