RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILY INTERACTION, FAMILY BURDEN AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY

Living with epilepsy imposes great challenges on both patients and their family caregivers but most researchers only explored the impact on patients, with less attention given to family caregivers. Our study intended to explore the needs and problems of epilepsy family caregivers of epilepsy patients encountered during the caregiving process. The present study was an attempt to assess the relationship between Family interaction pattern, family burden schedule and Quality of life of the caregivers of individuals with epilepsy. This study was conducted at the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi. It was a cross sectional study and purposive sampling was used. The present study was conducted among 60 caregivers of epilepsy, those who were willing to participate and those who have satisfied with inclusion and exclusion criteria have been included in the study. The socio demographic data sheet had been used for collecting socio demographic details of the caregivers of individuals with epilepsy. Family interaction pattern scale, family burden interview schedule and WHO Quality of life scale were applied on the caregivers of individuals with epilepsy. Statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS programme 16.0 version. The result found that family interaction pattern has effect on family burden and quality of life. Likewise family burden has greater impact on quality of life. The study highlights the need for family interventional programs to address the specific issues related to family interaction, burden and quality of life of caregivers.