Musculoskeletal symptoms in formal and informal caregivers of elderly people

to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms in formal and informal caregivers of elderly people, and check association with personal and work-related factors.

Methods:

this is a cross-sectional study. Instruments for assessment were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20, Borg’s effort perception scale and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

Results:

informal caregivers had been working for a longer time (60.2% vs. 41%), had more hours of work (37.4% >12h for day), less time off (85.4% vs. 2.5%) and lack of care guidelines (90.2%). The region with the most musculoskeletal symptoms was the spine and the greater dependence of the elderly, the greater the chances of developing musculoskeletal symptoms (OR= 1.3, 95% CI= 1.1-1.6, p <0.05).

Conclusion:

personal and work-related factors were more prevalent in informal group and the elderly person’s dependence interferes with the increase in musculoskeletal symptoms of caregivers.

Descriptors:
Caregivers; Elderly; Occupational Health; Musculoskeletal Pain; Physical Exertion

	Formal	Informal	p ^* * Significant difference (p≤0.05) using the chi-square test.
Sex [n (%)]			<0.01
Female	39 (100)	96 (78.1)
Male	-	27 (21.9)
Age in years [M (SD)]	38.6 ((1)10.1)	57.7 (13.8)	<0.01
Income [n (%)]			<0.01
> 2 salaries	20 (51.3)	30 (24.4)
Up to 2 salaries	19 (48.7)	69 (56.1)
No income	-(1)	24 (19.5)
Marital Status [n (%)]			0.13
With a partner	19 (48.7)	77 (62.6)
Without a partner	20 (51.3)	46 (37.4)
Complete schooling [n (%)]			<0.01
Illiterate	-	40 (32.5)
Fundamental school	-	47 (38.2)
High school	3 (7.7)	22 (17.9)
College	25 (64.1)	9 (7.3)
University	11 (28.2)	5 (4.1)
Physical activity level [n (%)]			0.51
Active/very active	17 (43.6)	61 (49.6)
Sedentary/non active	22 (56.4)	62 (50.4)
Smoking [n (%)]			0.40
No	30 (76.9)	102 (82.9)
Yes	9 (23.1)	21 (17.1)
Alcohol [n (%)]			<0.01
No	25 (64.1)	108 (87.8)
Yes	14 (35.9)	15 (12.2)

	Formal	Informal	p ^* * Significant difference (p≤0.05) using the chi-square test.
Time as caregiver [n (%)]			0.01
Up to 1 year	18 (46.2)	28 (22.8)
1 - 2 years	5 (12.8)	21 (17.1)
> 2 years	16 (41)	74 (60.2)
Hours of work/day [n (%)]			<0.01
Up to 6h/day	6 ((1)15.4)	20 (16.3)
6 - 12h/day	33 ((1)84.6)	57 (46.3)
> 12h/day	-(1)	46 (37.4)
Day off [n (%)]			<0.01
None	1 (2.5)	105 (85.4)
1/week	9 (23.1)	9 (7.3)
2/week	9 (23.1)	5 (4.1)
>2/week	20 (51.3)	4 (3.2)
Other activities [n (%)]			<0.01
None	31 (79.5)	16 (13)
Cooking	1 (2.5)	7 (5.7)
Cleaning	6 (15.4)	5 (4.1)
Cooking and cleaning	-	95 (77.2)
Others	1 (2.5)	-
Orientation about care [n (%)]			<0.01
None	-	111 (90.2)
Basics	31 (79.5)	12 (9.8)
Specialized	8 (20.5)	-
Self-Reporting Questionnaire [n (%)]			0.13
< 8	28 (71.8)	82 (66.7)
≥ 8	11 (28.2)	41 (33.3)
Open question: [n (%)] "In your opinion, what most damages your physical health when you are providing care?"			<0.01
Nothing	6 (15.4)	34 (27.6)
Emotional stress	1 (2.6)	27 (22.0)
Transfers	27 (69.2)	48 (39.0)
Others	5 (12.8)	14 (11.4)

Body regions	Formal	Informal	Total	p ^* * Significant difference (p≤0.05) using the chi-square test.
Spine	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)
Symptoms in the last 12 months	25 (64.1)	84 (68.3)	109 (67.3)	0.63
Symptoms in the last 7 days	19 (48.7)	47 (38.2)	66 (40.7)	0.25
Upper limbs
Symptoms in the last 12 months	17 (43.6)	57 (46.3)	74 (45.7)	0.76
Symptoms in the last 7 days	15 (38.5)	26 (21.1)	41 (25.3)	0.03
Lower limbs
Symptoms in the last 12 months	16 (41.0)	51 (41.6)	67 (41.4)	0.96
Symptoms in the last 7 days	14 (35.9)	50 (40.7)	64 (39.5)	0.60

Outcome Variable	Independent Variable	Odds Ratio (95%CI)	p ^* * Significant difference (p≤0.05) using the chi-square test.
Symptoms in the last 12 months
Spine	More dependent elderly	1.3 (1.1 - 1.6)	<0.01
	Perceived effort	1.1 (1.0 - 1.2)	0.01
Upper Limbs	SRQ-20 Score ≥8	2.2 (1.0 - 4.9)	0.05
	Perceived effort	1.1 (1.0 - 1.2)	<0.01
Lower Limbs	Perceived effort	1.1 (1.0 - 1.2)	0.03
Symptoms in the last 7 days
Spine	More dependent elderly	1.3 (1.0 - 1.5)	0.02
	SRQ-20 Score ≥8	2.2 (1.1 - 4.2)	0.03
Upper Limbs	Having rheumatoid arthritis	6.7 (1.6 - 28.9)	0.01
	Having a relationship	2.5 (1.1 - 5.6)	0.03
Lower Limbs	Age	1.0 (1.0 - 1.1)	<0.01
	Perceived effort	1.1 (1.0 - 1.2)	<0.01

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Leandro Corrêa Figueiredo Email: l_cofi@hotmail.com