In caring for family caregivers, the caregivers’ own primary care providers can be support resources; however, studies investigating whether those providers can affect caregiving-specific well-being, such as caregiver stress, are scarce. We explored whether primary care experiences when family caregivers report as patients were associated with their stress related to caregiving. We found that better primary care experiences were associated with lower caregiver stress.
Abstract
Background
Few studies have examined whether family caregivers’ own primary care providers can affect caregiving-specific well-being, such as caregiver stress. In this pilot study, we explored whether primary care experiences when family caregivers report as patients were associated with the stress of caregiving.
Methods
We used cross-sectional data from a survey conducted in Japan between November and December 2020. We recruited family caregivers aged 40–74 years who were caring for community-dwelling adults with chronic conditions. We assessed primary care experience using the Japanese version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool Short Form (JPCAT-SF) and caregiver stress using the Japanese short version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview.
Results
In total, 406 family caregivers were included in the analysis. The mean JPCAT-SF total score was 42.1 out of 100 points. The proportion of caregivers who had higher caregiver stress was 48.8%. After adjusting for possible confounders, the JPCAT-SF score was found to be significantly associated with caregiver stress (lower stress = 0 vs. higher stress = 1; adjusted prevalence ratio per 1 SD increase in JPCAT-SF score = 0.89; 95% CI 0.80–0.98). Among the subscales of the JPCAT-SF, longitudinality, and comprehensiveness (services available) were associated with caregiver stress.
Conclusions
Better primary care experiences when family caregivers reported as patients were associated with lower caregiver stress. Longitudinality, which includes focusing attention on the individual as a whole person, and comprehensiveness in the context of building provider-patient relationships that make consultation easier when needed, were associated with lower stress.