Burden and coping strategies among Jordanian caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Recent studies reported hemodialysis patients' sufferings from physical and psychosocial issues, but few studies reported family-caregiver burdens. This study aims to explore the burdens and coping strategies of caregivers of patients receiving hemodialysis. Caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis (n = 139) at 3 dialysis units were given 3 forms: Caregiver and Patient Characteristics, Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale Difficulty Subscale, and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlational analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed. The Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale was significantly related to self-controlling (r = 0.20) and seeking social support (r = 0.17). Caregiver burden was positively and significantly correlated with self-controlling coping subscale, with t = 1.10, P = 0.05, and β = 0.25. Living with the patient was the only variable that was a significant predictor of burden, with t = 2.96, P = 0.00, and β = 0.331. Living with patients predicted caregiver burden, and the burden scale correlated with self-controlling. The findings contribute to the evidence on the adverse health effects of caregivers of patients receiving hemodialysis. This study suggests that nursing interventions should target caregiver knowledge for better coping.

Caregivers of Patients on Haemodialysis

“…Thus, taking care of patients for a long time is a stressful process for the caregiver and leads to low psychological status, decreased physical health, reduced social interaction, and physical and emotional burden [6]. More speciically, they feel physical and psychological distress, limitations to their personal and social activities, while wife caregivers feel anger, helplessness, guilt, isolation, and loss of freedom [5].…”

“…They often face diiculties with dating, marriage, and work, since they decrease or rearrange their working hours, take days of without pay, stop their job, or retire early in order to provide care to their patient [6]. They have to spend at least 3 days a week to accompany their patients on haemodialysis [23].…”

“…They have to spend at least 3 days a week to accompany their patients on haemodialysis [23]. Alnazly [6] found that 30% of the participants were unemployed since they used to spend 50 h a week for providing care to their patients, while they delayed their education, which afected their career and their inancial situation.…”

“…Similarly, Grapsa et al [12] found that 97% of caregivers were extremely or very worried about their patients' problem. It was found that caregivers' burden was inluenced by the relation between the caregiver and the patient, the length of the treatment, and the changes in life [6]. Gill et al [33] found that caregivers of patients on dialysis expressed higher burden than those of nondialysis patients with end-stage renal disease.…”

“…A large number of dialysis patients rely on their family members for their daily activities and medical care [6,7], since family is the best source for providing care to these patients. Family caregivers play a vital role in caring for older adults.…”