Farm Comunitarios. 2016 Sep 30;8(3):22-28. doi: 10.5672/FC.2173-9218.(2016/Vol8).003.02

Comparison of psychopathologies and support given to caregivers of Alzheimer patients by the community pharmacy and caregiver associations

Vérez-Cotelo N1, Ríos-Lago M2, Andrés-Rodríguez NF, Fornos-Pérez JA3, Andrés-Iglesias JC4, Mera-Gallego R4
1. Doctora en Farmacia. Universidad San Pablo CEU. Escuela de Magisterio de Vigo. Grupo Berbés de Investigación y Docencia (www.grupoberbes.es) 2. Doctor en Psicología. Dpto. Psicología Básica II. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) 3. Doctor en Farmacia. Farmacéutico comunitario en Vigo (España). Grupo Berbés de Investigación y Docencia (www.grupoberbes.es) 4. Farmacéutico comunitario en Vigo (España). Grupo Berbés de Investigación y Docencia (www.grupoberbes.es)
Vérez-Cotelo N, Ríos-Lago M, Andrés-Rodríguez NF, Fornos-Pérez JA, Andrés-Iglesias JC, Mera-Gallego R. Comparison of psychopathologies and support given to caregivers of Alzheimer patients by the community pharmacy and caregiver associations. Farm Comunitarios. 2016 Sep 30;8(3):22-28. doi: 10.5672/FC.2173-9218.(2016/Vol8).003.02
Abstract : 

Introduction: Family caregivers of Alzheimer patients (FCAP) suffer from excessive burdens and psychopathologies deriving from the care. Objective: compare the level of excessive burdens, anxiety, depression and social support perceived by FCAPs who belong to a family members of Alzheimer patients association (FAA) and those who don’t and are attended to at the community pharmacy.

Methods: Observational transversal study. 175 FCAPs, divided into two groups. One with 25 FCAPs formed by caregivers who go regularly to a pharmacy and don’t belong to an association (FAA). The second group (FAA) of 150 FCAPs belonging to 7 FAAs in Galicia. Sociodemographic variables were recorded and questionnaires were handed out: Beck Depression Inventory, STAI-Anxiety questionnaire, Zarit caregiver burden scale, Duke-UNC scale of perceived social support. 

Results: In both groups the profile of the caregiver is a 56 year old woman, direct family member of the Alzheimer’s patient with primary education. There are no significant differences between the groups in age (p=0.931) or educational level (p=0.508). Nor were there differences in marital status (p=0.468) or employment status (p=0.851). Significant differences: anxiety, burden and social support. The FAA had higher scores in burden (t=3.162; p=0.002), anxiety (t=2.054; p=0.046) and perceived social support (t=2.755; p=0.006). There were no significant differences in depression (t=0.881; p=0.380). 

Conclusions: Family caregivers of the FAA group displayed higher levels of burden and anxiety. The results of this study support the use of community pharmacies for detecting psychopathologies associated with caring for Alzheimer’s patients and healthcare for caregivers.

Editor: © SEFAC. Sociedad Española de Farmacia Clínica, Familiar y Comunitaria. 
Copyright© SEFAC. Sociedad Española de Farmacia Clínica, Familiar y Comunitaria. This article is available from url https://www.farmaceuticoscomunitarios.org/. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.en

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