Table 1.
Demographics of the family members/informal caregivers
| Family members | Test/t1 [n = 90] |
Retest/t2 [n = 83] |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Male | 34 (37.8%) | 32 (38.6%) |
| Female | 56 (62.2%) | 51 (61.4%) |
| Age (years) | ||
| Mean (± SD) | 59.6 (± 14.4) | 59.6 (± 14.7) |
| Median (interquartile range) | 61 (51–71.5) | 62 (51–72.3) |
| Relationship to patient | ||
| Partner | 54 (60.0%) | 50 (60.2%) |
| Parent | 20 (22.2%) | 18 (21.7%) |
| Child | 10 (11.1%) | 10 (12.0%) |
| Siblings | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (1.2%) |
| Other | 4 (4.4%) | 3 (3.6%) |
| Missing information | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (1.2%) |
| Living in one household with the “person to be taken care of” | ||
| Yes | 72 (80.0%) | 64 (77.1%) |
| No | 17 (18.9%) | 19 (22.9%) |
| Missing information | 1 (1.1%) | 0 |
| Civil status | ||
| Single/living alone | 8 (8.9%) | 8 (9.6%) |
| Married | 67 (74.4%) | 62 (74.7%) |
| In a permanent relationship | 6 (6.7%) | 6 (7.2%) |
| Separated | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (1.2%) |
| Divorced | 7 (7.8%) | 4 (4.8%) |
| Widowed | 1 (1.1%) | 2 (2.4%) |
| Level of education | ||
| Education (≤ 10 years) | 48 (53.3%) | 45 (54.2%) |
| Education (> 10 years) | 22 (24.4%) | 21 (25.3%) |
| Higher Education (University, PHD) | 20 (22.2%) | 17 (20.5%) |
| Condition of the informal caregivera | ||
| Fit/healthy | 52 (57.8%) | 48 (57.8%) |
| Diseased | 37 (41.1%) | 35 (42.2%) |
| Missing information | 1 (1.1%) | 0 |
| Diagnosis of the patients whom informal caregivers take care of (multiple ticks were allowed) | ||
| Cardiovascular | 9 (10.0%) | |
| Old age frailty | 2 (2.2%) | |
| Chronic pain | 2 (2.2%) | |
| Endocrinology | 8 (8.9%) | |
| Mental health | 25 (27.8%) | |
| Neurology | 45 (50.0%) | |
| Oncology | 18 (20.0%) | |
| Respiratory | 5 (5.6%) | |
| Orthopedics | 4 (4.4%) | |
| Nephrology | 2 (2.2%) | |
| Genetics | 4 (4.4%) | |
aThe health status of the family member was assessed with one closed question (“Are you currently ill?” [Answer options: yes/no]) and with one open question (“If yes, which illness do you have?”)