Informal caregivers of patients with COPD: Home Sweet Home?

Nienke Nakken; Daisy J A Janssen; Esther H A van den Bogaart; Emiel F M Wouters; Frits M E Franssen; Jan H Vercoulen; Martijn A Spruit

doi:10.1183/16000617.00010114

Informal caregivers of patients with COPD: Home Sweet Home?

Eur Respir Rev. 2015 Sep;24(137):498-504. doi: 10.1183/16000617.00010114.

Authors

Nienke Nakken¹, Daisy J A Janssen², Esther H A van den Bogaart³, Emiel F M Wouters⁴, Frits M E Franssen³, Jan H Vercoulen⁵, Martijn A Spruit⁶

Affiliations

¹ Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands nienkenakken@ciro-horn.nl.
² Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands Centre of Expertise for Palliative Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
³ Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands.
⁴ Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
⁵ Dept of Medical Psychology and Dept of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁶ Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED - Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Abstract

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on society is increasing. Healthcare systems should support patients with COPD in achieving an optimal quality of life, while limiting the costs of care. As a consequence, a shift from hospital care to home care seems inevitable. Therefore, patients will have to rely to a greater extent on informal caregivers. Patients with COPD as well as their informal caregivers are confronted with multiple limitations in activities of daily living. The presence of an informal caregiver is important to provide practical help and emotional support. However, caregivers can be overprotective, which can make patients more dependent. Informal caregiving may lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, social isolation and a changed relationship with the patient. The caregivers' subjective burden is a major determinant of the impact of caregiving. Therefore, the caregiver's perception of the patient's health is an important factor. This article reviews the current knowledge about these informal caregivers of patients with COPD, the impact of COPD on their lives and their perception of the patient's health status.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adaptation, Psychological
Caregivers / psychology*
Cost of Illness*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Home Care Services*
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Perception
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / diagnosis
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / psychology
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / therapy*
Quality of Life