{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Self-Reports and Caregivers' Proxy Reports of Unmet Needs of Persons With Dementia: Implications for Both Partners' Health-Related Quality of Life.
{Author}: Monin JK;Jorgensen TD;MacNeil Vroomen JL;
{Journal}: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
{Volume}: 28
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 03 2020
{Factor}: 7.996
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.10.006
{Abstract}: This study examined in a large sample of dementia caregiving dyads the associations between both partners' reports of unmet needs in persons with dementia (PwDs) and both partners' health-related quality of life (HRQOL).<BR>This was a cross-sectional self-report survey of 521 community-dwelling dyads in a pragmatic trial in the Netherlands. The Camberwell Needs Assessment was used to measure PwDs' unmet needs. Both partners' self-reported their HRQOL using the EuroQol-5.<BR>Controlling for covariates, PwDs' self-reported greater unmet needs were significantly associated with PwDs' and caregivers' lower self-reported HRQOL (actor effect; b = -0.044, β = -0.226, z = -3.588, p <0.001 and partner effect; b = -0.021, β = -0.131, z = -2.154, p = 0.031). Caregivers' proxy reports were greater than PwDs' self-reported unmet needs (Δ=0.66,χ2(1)=55.881,p<.0001).<BR>Clinicians should use caution in relying on caregiver proxy reports of PwDs' needs and HQOL alone regarding healthcare decision making.