Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2020 Feb;29(1):88-96. 10.5807/kjohn.2020.29.1.88.

A Study on Analysis of Mental Fitness, Perspective Taking, Attitude toward the Elderly, and Quantitative Encephalogram among Caregivers

• Weon HW
• Son HK

• KMID: 2509017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2020.29.1.88

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the mental fitness, perspective taking, attitude toward the elderly, and quantitative encephalogram among caregivers.
Methods
In this mixed method research, 14 female caregivers at an elderly care facility in Y city were participated from December 1st to December 31st, 2019. Structured questionnaires were applied to measure general characteristics, mental fitness, perspective taking, and attitude toward the elderly. Brain waves were measured by quantitative encephalogram in the prefrontal lobe. High frequency and high level of care tasks were analyzed using content analysis.
Results
According to analysis of brain waves, caregivers experienced high level of physical strain & stress and psychological distraction & stress. Mental fitness (p<.05) and perspective taking (p<.001) were associated with attitude toward the elderly. Moreover, physical strain & stress was associated with psychological distraction & stress (p<.05, p<.001). High frequency and high level tasks were excretion and position change & movement care related tasks, respectively.
Conclusion
These findings should be consider as an evidence for supporting care tasks based on concrete and objective understanding of caregivers using self-reported index as well as neurophysiological indicators including brain waves.

Keyword

Attitudes; Brain waves; Caregiver; Neurosciences