Abstract

PURPOSE
The objectives of this study were to examine the difference between scores assigned by dementia patients and their caregivers to the patients' anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
METHODS
After obtaining Institutional Review Board(IRB) approval, face-to-face interview with the patients and their caregivers respectively was conducted by trained graduate-level nursing students from December 2007 to February 2008. Patients' anxiety, depression, and quality of life were measured by patients and their caregivers. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean , standard deviation, t-test, and Pearson's correlation.
RESULTS
Significant relationships were reported between the depression rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(r = .37, p = .019). In addition, there was no difference between the quality of life rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(t = -7.11, p = .479). However, there was no significant relationship between the anxiety rated by patients and that rated by their caregivers(r = .21, p = .195).
CONCLUSION
There were no differences on level of depression and quality of life of dementia patients measured by dementia patients and caregivers, However, dementia patients' anxiety level has discrepancy between them.

• Keywords: Dementia; Anxiety; Depression; Quality of life