Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the factors associated with strain in carers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHOD: People with MS were recruited from an MS management clinic. Demographic information, memory, executive function, attention/concentration, mood, disability and health of the person with MS, the carer's opinion of the care-recipient's memory and disability, and the carer's mood were recorded. A postal questionnaire to identify factors associated with carer strain was sent to carers. A further questionnaire was sent to carers to examine the association between memory problems in people with MS and carer strain.

RESULTS: Problems with everyday memory and activities of daily living were found to be associated with carer strain. Strained carers perceived strain to be a consequence of the memory problems (p < 0.01). Aspects of the memory problems related to carer strain were the amount of time a carer could spend alone (p = 0.01), the carer's mood and less sympathetic feelings towards the person with MS (p < 0.05). Strained carers had more desire for other people to help the person with MS deal with the memory problems by themselves than carers who were not under strain (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Carer strain was associated with memory problems experienced by people with MS.