Investigating the effects of communication difficulties on the burden of Maltese caregivers of persons with dementia

Abstract

This research investigated the effect of communication difficulties on the burden of caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD). The main objective of the study was to explore the relationship between communication problems associated with dementia and caregiver burden, within the context of problem behaviours, functional abilities and cognition of the care recipient. The data was collected from caregivers of PWD, who met the selection criteria. They were asked to participate from the Rehabilitation Hospital Karin Grech (RHKG), Paul Cuschieri Activity Centre SVPR, Medical out Patients (MOP) RI IKG and from the Dementia Classes carried out at RHKG. The participants were asked to fill out a set of quantitative research questionnaires which gathered information regarding, caregiver burden, communication difficulties, PWD's cognitive status, behavioural problems and functional abilities. This data was also backup by two focus groups. The results of the data collected were analysed quantitatively using two types of quantitative analysis tools, descriptive statistics and multiple regression statistics. Thematic coding was used to analyse the focus group results. The findings from the study highlight the importance of focusing on communication problems as a key element likely to affect the caregiving relationship and ultimately the level of the caregiving burden. Specifically, the findings affirm a clear link between the progression of the disease, the PWD's loss of communication skills and engagement in problem behaviours, and the caregivers' experience of objective and subjective burden.