Stress, overload and quality of life in caregivers of children with/without orofacial cleft and dysphagia

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the correlation between stress, overload and quality of life of informal caregivers of children with and without orofacial cleft and dysphagia. Method: a cross-sectional, case-control study carried out in a public and tertiary hospital, located in the inland of São Paulo, Brazil, which encompassed two groups: case and comparative. The case group consisted of 30 informal caregivers of children with orofacial cleft and dysphagia, using a feeding tube, while the comparative group consisted of 30 informal caregivers of children without orofacial cleft, fed orally. For data collection, the Bourden Interview Scale, Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bref were used. For statistical analysis, the following tests were used: chi-square, Student’s t, Mann-Whitney and Pearson’s correlation, all with a 5% significance level. Analysis of the linear correlation forces was also used. Results: in the case group, stress presented a moderate correlation with the overall quality of life (r=-0.41; p=0.025) and satisfaction with health (r=-0.42; p=0.021). Also in the case group, referring to quality of life, the Physical and Psychological domains presented a strong correlation with overload (r=-0.54, p=0.002; r=-0.55, p=0.002, respectively). In the comparative group, no correlations were identified. Conclusion: among the informal caregivers of children with orofacial cleft and dysphagia, there was a correlation between stress and the perception of global quality of life and satisfaction with health, as well as between overload and quality of life, in the physical and psychological dimensions.