The Burden of Caregivers of Stroke Patients and the Factors Affecting the Burden

Objective: The study was designed to determine the burden of caregivers of stroke patients and the factors affecting the burden. Methods: This descriptive research was conducted at Turkey Izmir Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Clinic for Neurology with the participation of 80 caregivers who agreed to take part in the research between January 15 and March 15, 2007. Data were collected using an introductory information form and the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Results: The average Caregiver Burden Inventory subscales scores were time-addiction burden 15.31 +/- 4.07, developmental burden 8.19 +/- 4.46, physical burden 6.88 +/- 3.93, social burden 5.55 +/- 4.40, emotional burden 3.44 +/- 4.25. The average total burden score was 39.36 +/- 13.83. There was found relationship between the ages of caregivers and the time-addiction burden; the social security and emotional and total burden; the requesting state to receive caregiver training and emotional burden; and the encountered difficulties in coping strategies and the average score for the physical burden subscale (p<0.05). Conclusion: In accordance with the aforementioned results, it has been concluded that taking care of a family member in need is perceived as a task and responsibility in Turkish society. Parallel to this, caregivers are not aware of their burden throughout the process and have difficulty in expressing the hardships they experience.