Abstract
Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the determinant factors of "the subjective well-being of the caregiver (mainly the mother) with a child receiving in-home high-technology medical care" ("family subjective well-being") such as home oxygen therapy and automated ventilator etc. and also to elaborate strategies for the maintenance and improvement of the subjective well-being of the family membera. Methds : This study was a secondary analysis of "the questionnaire survey for the evaluation of quality of life of family members" performed in 1997 by the committee for the evaluation of home care system for children organized in Osaka prefectural medical association. The questionnaire consisted of 4 groups of questions : (1)demographic characteristics of the family, (2)life status of the family, (3)changes in the child after the initiation of the in-home care, (4)changes in the family members, and each answer was scored or categorized for further analysis. We selected "satisfaction with the in-home care" ("satisfaction") and "good estimation of the effect of the in-home care on the family members" ("good estimation") as the representative items of "family subjective well-being". Results : We performed multiple regression analysis using these items as dependent factors and as independent factors, such items as yielded significant simple correlation coefficients. As a result, "satisfaction" was defined by "good family relationship", "expansion of social activity", "approval of the spouse", and "good estimation" was defined also by "good family relation", "expansion of social activity", and "the presence of siblings". Further multiple regression analysis setting "good family relation" as dependent factor showed that "degree of utilization of social resources", "reduction of physical strain", "increase in time for conversation between the father and the family" and "the presence of siblings" were the significant determinant factors. Conclusion : Thus the present study suggested that "the family subjective well-being" was shown to be better influenced not only by "the reduction of physical strain of the mother as the main caregiver" through "the utilization of social resources", but also by "good family relationship" which was derived from "the presence of siblings" and "positive participation of the father" to the in-home high technology child care.
