Date of Award
6-3-2025
Thesis Type
PhD
Document Type
Thesis
Divisions
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Social Administration and Justice
Institution
Universiti Malaya
Abstract
This study delves into the lived experiences of informal caregivers for epilepsy patients, with a keen focus on the social support they receive and the challenges they face in caregiving. The primary objective is to elucidate the various types of social support available to these caregivers and to assess the extent to which this support aligns with the challenges in their roles. The study uses a qualitative approach based on interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the research questions in detail. Purposeful sampling techniques were employed to select informal caregivers of epilepsy patients in the Kota Kinabalu district of Sabah. Ten participants who met the eligibility criteria were interviewed in depth using a semi-structured interview protocol. The data collected were manually analysed according to the guidelines of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), with the researcher’s reflective insights enhancing the interpretations. This analytical process led to the identification and comprehensive elaboration of key themes and sub-themes related to the experiences of informal caregivers. The findings indicate that informal caregivers of epilepsy patients benefit from various types of social support within their community. This support helps to alleviate stress, boost confidence, reduce fatigue, facilitate early access to professional medical assistance and represents a sense of communal care and concern. However, the study also highlights that the social support received often does not fully address these caregivers' specific challenges. Key issues include prolonged caregiving responsibilities, uncertainty about the patients' future, lack of stable income, and bureaucratic obstacles among the 13 themes identified. In response to these challenges, the study proposes a digital social support programme. This programme has the potential to inspire and motivate caregivers, providing them with the tools and resources they need to manage the challenges they encounter. Additionally, the study recommends digitizing social support systems to better assist informal caregivers in managing the challenges of epilepsy caregiving. This integrated and digitally driven social support programme is essential for enhancing the well-being of both informal caregivers and the epilepsy patients they care for. The study's findings also have important implications for creating a more inclusive and comprehensive social care policy framework, offering valuable insights for policymakers.
Additional Information
Thesis (PhD) – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 2025.
Recommended Citation
Kangan, Helen, "Sokongan sosial dan cabaran penjagaan dalam kalangan penjaga tidak formal pesakit Epilepsi" (2025). Student Works (2020-2029). 1915.
https://knova.um.edu.my/student_works_2020s/1915
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
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