The Effects of Patients’ and Caregivers’ Characteristics on the Burden of Families Caring for Stroke Survivors

Abstract

Background: Vascular strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability for adults. They impose high levels of burden on the patient, the family, and national healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effects of patients’ and caregivers’ characteristics on the perceptions of burden in families caring for a loved one living with stroke in Greece. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 109 dyads of patients and their respective caregivers were recruited from the Attica region. Patients completed a questionnaire that included personal characteristics and the Barthel Index, while caregivers completed a set of questionnaires—personal characteristics, revised Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale (BCOS), Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ 2000), and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). Results: Caregiving burden was linked to both patients’ and caregivers’ characteristics. A patient’s educational level, the number of family members living in the same house, the existence of equipment and facilities in the house, and the duration of provided care were associated with perception of greater burden. Regarding caregivers’ characteristics, those in good health had a significantly lower perception of burden. Higher PRQ 2000 scores were significantly associated with higher BCOS scores (less burden), and higher CES-D scores were significantly associated with lower BCOS scores (more burden). Conclusion: Caring for a loved one affected by stroke places a considerable burden on the caregiver. Systematic assessment and intervention strategies can help to identify caregivers at risk so that suitably targeted assistance may be provided.

Factors Influencing Caregiver Burden among Family Caregivers of Post-Stroke Persons in Wenzhou, China

“…A study demonstrates that the burden is more on family caregivers for the post-stroke persons providing more caregiving activities (Khanittanuphong and Leelasamran, 2016;Wang et al, 2021). Moreover, the level of caregiver burden is influenced by the number of caregiving activities the family caregivers perform for their post-stroke persons; the more caregiver amount of caregiving activities performed, the more caregiver burden of those family caregivers of post-stroke persons feels (Chen et al, 2020;Kavga et al, 2021).…”

Physio-psycho-social interaction mechanism in dyadic health of young and middle-aged stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers: a longitudinal observational study protocol

“…The BI has been widely used in stroke survivors with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.95). 45 …”

Availability and Burden of Family Caregivers in Caring for a Recurrent Stroke Survivor in the Community During a Pandemic

“…Limited Community and Family Resources Pindus et al, (2018) claimed that caregivers of stroke survivors in the community consider it very important to know what community resources are available and to have access to those resources. Furthermore, the availability of someone to watch over their loved one, even for a few hours, was perceived as very beneficial to family caregivers (Achilike et al, 2020;Kavga et al, 2021). This may be particularly true among caregivers with increasing personal needs.…”