Quality of Life and Well-Being of Family Caregivers of Prolonged Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Observational Study

Participation in health-promoting activities and the caregivers' personal experiences were positively linked to QOL and well-being and linked negatively to burden. Although these findings require further investigation, they also point to the importance of developing occupational therapy support programs for family caregivers of mechanically ventilated patients. Plain-Language Summary: Caregivers of family members who require prolonged mechanical ventilation bear a heavy burden that can affect their quality of life. For this study 26 caregivers of family members hospitalized in a long-term acute care facility completed questionnaires on their quality of life, well-being, burden, participation in activities, and perceptions of their caregiving role. We found that quality of life was enhanced by participation in health-promoting activities and influenced by the caregivers' personal experiences and burden. Occupational therapy interventions should be designed to improve the quality of life of caregivers and to identify caregivers who are at risk of any negative effects on their quality of life and well-being.