Determinants of Caregiving Burden and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Stroke Patients

Abstract

Background and Purpose-A large proportion of disabled stroke survivors live at home and are supported by informal caregivers. Identification of determinants of caregiver burden will help to target caregiver interventions. Methods-Data on patient, caregiver, and health and social support characteristics were collected prospectively over 1 year in 232 stroke survivors in a randomized trial of caregiver training. The contribution of these variables to caregiver burden score (CBS) and quality of life (QOL) measures at 3 months and 1 year was analyzed using regression models. Results-Stroke patients had a mean age of 74Ϯ11 years, and 120 (52%) were men. The mean age of caregivers was 65.7Ϯ12.5 years, 149 (64%) were females, and 116 (50%) had received caregiver training. The mean CBS was 48Ϯ13 and 38Ϯ11 (score range of bad to good 88 to 22) and QOL score was 75Ϯ16 and 75Ϯ15 (score range of bad to good 0 to 100) at 3 months and 1 year, respectively. CBS and QOL correlated with each other and with patient (age, dependency, and mood), caregiver (age, gender, mood, and training), and support (social services and family networks) variables. Of these, only patient and caregiver emotional status, caregiver age and gender, and participation in caregiver training were independent predictors of either outcome at 3 months. Patient dependency and family support were additional independent predictors at 1 year. Social services support predicted institutionalization but not caregiver outcomes. Conclusion-Advancing

Strain experienced by caregivers of stroke survivors in the Western Cape

“…Training caregivers in the basic skills of moving and handling a patient, activi ties of daily living and simple nursing tasks can reduce the burden of care, enhance caregiver's quality of life and reduce the risk of injury to caregivers and patients (McCullagh et al 2005;Pierce et al 2007;Hinojosa and Rittman 2009). In the current study the majority of caregivers expressed a need for more training in physical handling skills.…”

Caregiving services in spinal cord injury: a systematic review of the literature

“…In the literature pertaining to caregiving following stroke, caregiver training was found to lessen the impact of age and severity of illness on caregiver burden and quality of life, underscoring the importance of these programs for informal caregivers. 38 Future work may focus on the experience of caregiver burden and interventions that alleviate the impact of caring on caregivers of individuals with SCI.…”

Burden and modifications in life from the perspective of caregivers for patients after stroke

“…In the face of this scenario, studies have shown that the compromising of cognitive function, presence of depression and problems of memory or functional capacity in patients following stroke worsen the overload of family carers (2)(3) .…”