The burden of caring for renal patients: The nurses perspective

Abstract

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Nigeria is on the increase and it is associated with increasing caregiving burden for both the professionals and informal caregivers. This study evaluated the burden experienced by nurses caring for CKD patients, identified the procedures causing the caregiving burden and factors associated with burden in two hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty nurses caring for renal patients were selected from two health institutions in Ondo State. Information on sociodemographic data was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The burden of care was evaluated using the Zarith Burden of Life Instrument (ZBI), with aggregate score ranged from 0-88. A score of 21-40 indicates mild-to-moderate burden while a score >40 indicates high burden. The mean age of the respondents was 33.7 ± 7.5 years (age range: 20-67 years). Forty percent experienced no burden, 48.3% experienced mild-to-moderate burden, 10.4% experienced severe burden while only 1.3% experienced very severe burden. Dialysis procedure (65.5%) was identified as posing the greatest caregiving burden. Factors identified as responsible for caregiving burden were shortage of staff (68%), followed by lack of funds on the part of the patients (67.1%). Caregiving burden was not associated with age, gender, or years of experience. Prevalence of caregiving burden was very high among the respondents and dialysis was identified as causing greatest burden. Government should fund and improve staffing of dialysis units to reduce caregiving burden.

The effect of group logo therapy on the burden of hemodialysis patients’ caregivers

“…Contrary to the results of the present study, the results of the study by Rioux et al showed low levels of burden among hemodialysis caregivers, which can be attributed to some factors, such as nocturnal dialysis at home, independency and the ability of most patients to self-care with highly educated caregivers (29). Studies have shown that caregivers of patients suffer greatly from various physical, mental, emotional, social and economical dimensions (26). Recent studies have also shown that home caregivers, (29,30).…”

“…The study of Alnazly et al among Jordanian caregivers showed that most of caregivers (76%) experienced severe level of burden (25). However, Mobolaji et al reported that (48.3%) of hemodialysis patients' caregivers in Nigeria experienced mild-to-moderate burden, (10.4%) experienced severe burden while only (1.3%) experienced very severe burden (26). Similarly, the result of the study by Nagarathnam et al showed, a higher percentage of caregivers (85%) had mild to moderate burden (27).…”

Bedside rationing and moral distress in nephrologists in sub- Saharan Africa

“…The concept of moral distress has not been well studied in nephrology and even less in SSA [ 57 ]. A study among nurses who manage patients with chronic kidney disease in 2 major hospitals in Nigeria found that the burden of care, as measured by the Zarit Burden of Life Instrument, was highest for dialysis [ 58 ]. Leading factors which contributed to the higher burden of care in dialysis included staff shortages, patients’ lack of funds and difficulty finding kidney donors, closely followed by erratic power and water supplies, lack of equipment, patient mal-adherence and patients’ inability to sustain dialysis.…”