The relationship between the severity of the disease and burden on the caregivers

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the severity of the disease and the burden on the caregiver in rehabilitation patients. The study included 45 caregivers and 45 neurological rehabilitation patients (hemiplegia, paraplegia, and tetraplegia). Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) was applied to participants for caregiver burnout, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was applied for patients' quality of life, To assess sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was applied for symptoms of depression. The Barthel Index was used to measure patients' performance in daily life activities. The average motor functional independence score of our patients was 44.29 ± 20.70. In the correlations of CSI with NHP, BDE, PSQI, and Barthel, CSI-PSQI (r: 0.443 p: 0.002), CSI-BDE (r: 0.382 P: 0.01), NHP2-CSI (r: 0.417 p:0.004), and NHP social isolation-CSI were positively correlated (r:353 p: 0.017). BARHEL-CSI was negatively correlated (r:-0.332 p: 0.026). According to the regression analysis, PSQI, BDE, NHP social isolation, and NHP2 values (p: 0.002, p: 0.014, p: 0.017, p: 0.004) had a significant positive effect on CSI. Barthel ındex had a negative effect. The higher the level of addiction in rehabilitation patients, the greater the stress experienced by caregivers. Exhaustion of those who are interested in people with disabilities will also put a burden on the patient and society.