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

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the impact that caring has on a member of the family caring for a patient after a cerebrovascular accident, correlating life modifications and mental suffering with the perceived burden. METHOD: a cross-sectional, quantitative study, undertaken in January-April 2010 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. RESULT: 61 individuals were investigated, monitored by three hospitals' Home Care Program. Data collection was through interviews for identifying life changes, and through the application of three scales for investigating perceived burden, mental state and mental suffering. Respectively these were the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Self Reported Questionnaire (SRQ). The majority of the carers were female, married, and the children of the stroke patients. The average age was 48.2 years (±12.4). The most-cited life modifications referred to the daily routine, to leisure activities, and to exhaustion or tiredness. Regarding burden, the dimensions of General tension, Isolation and Disappointment stood out. It was ascertained that overload was more severe when the carer presented more symptoms of psychological distress, in the absence of a secondary carer, and when the principal carers reported perceiving changes in their bodies and health. CONCLUSION: an association between burden and the carer's mental state was not observed. Understanding the care, through analysis of the burden and of the knowledge of the biopsychosocial situation will provide support for the nurse's work in reducing the overload for family caregivers.OBJETIVO: analizar el impacto del cuidar para el cuidador familiar de paciente después de accidente vascular cerebral, correlacionando modificaciones de vida y sufrimiento psíquico con la sobrecarga percibida. MÉTODO: estudio transversal, cuantitativo, realizado de enero a abril de 2010, en Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. RESULTADO: se investigaron 61 individuos, acompañados por el Programa de Servicio Domiciliar de tres hospitales. La colecta de los datos ocurrió mediante entrevista para identificar modificaciones de vida, y con la aplicación de tres escalas para investigar la sobrecarga percibida, estado mental y sufrimiento psíquico. Son ellas, respectivamente: Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Mini Examen del Estado Mental (MEEM) y Self Reported Questionnaire (SRQ). Los cuidadores, en su mayoría, eran del sexo femenino, casados (as) e hijo (as) de los pacientes después del AVC. Edad Media de 48,2 años (±12,4). Las modificaciones de vida más citadas fueron referentes a la rutina diaria, a las actividades de ocio y agotamiento o cansancio. En cuanto a la sobrecarga, se destacaron las dimensiones Tensión general, Aislamiento y Decepción. Se verificó mayor sobrecarga cuanto más síntomas de sufrimiento psíquico el cuidador presentase, en la ausencia de cuidador secundario y cuando los cuidadores principales relataron percibir modificación en el cuerpo y en la salud. CONCLUSIÓN: no fue observada asociación de la sobrecarga con el estado mental del cuidador. Entender la coyuntura del cuidado, mediante análisis del recargo de trabajo, y del conocimiento de la situación biopsicosocial, suministrará subsidios para la actuación del enfermero para reducir la carga generada para los cuidadores familiares.OBJETIVO: analisar o impacto do cuidar para o cuidador familiar de paciente após acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), correlacionando modificações de vida e sofrimento psíquico com a sobrecarga percebida. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado de janeiro a abril de 2010, em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. RESULTADO: investigaram-se 61 indivíduos, acompanhados pelo Programa de Atendimento Domiciliar (PAD), de três hospitais. A coleta dos dados ocorreu mediante entrevista para identificar modificações de vida, e com a aplicação de três escalas para investigar sobrecarga percebida, estado mental e sofrimento psíquico. São elas, respectivamente: Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) e Self Reported Questionnaire (SRQ). Os cuidadores, na sua maioria, eram do sexo feminino, casados(as) e filho(as) dos pacientes após AVC. A média de idade era de 48,2 anos (±12,4). As modificações de vida mais citadas foram referentes à rotina diária, às atividades de lazer e esgotamento ou cansaço. Quanto à sobrecarga, destacaram-se as dimensões tensão geral, isolamento e decepção. Verificou-se maior sobrecarga quanto mais sintomas de sofrimento psíquico o cuidador apresentasse, na ausência de cuidador secundário e quando os cuidadores principais relataram perceber modificação no corpo e na saúde. CONCLUSÃO: não foi observada associação da sobrecarga com o estado mental do cuidador. Entender a conjuntura do cuidado, mediante análise da sobrecarga de trabalho, e do conhecimento da situação biopsicossocial fornecerá subsídios para a atuação do enfermeiro para reduzir a carga gerada para os cuidadores familiares

Factors of high impacts on the life of caregivers of disabled elderly

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Elderly caregivers suffer physical and psychological consequences of the act of caring. The objective of this study was to characterize primary caregivers of elderly people in the community and identify the higher impacts of this activity on their life. We interviewed 127 caregivers about sociodemographic characteristics, presence of anxiety/depression (self-reporting questionnaire = SRQ), burden of care (caregiver burden scale = CBS); while their dependents were evaluated using sociodemographic questionnaires, health history, activities of daily living (ADL) scale and geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). The caregivers' mean age was 55.1 +/- 13.3 years; among them most were women and daughters with up to 4 years of education. The mean time as responsible for the elderly was 86.5 +/- 96.3 months; 56% divided the caring responsibility and 28.2% had another occupation; 32.3% presented psychoemotional illness. There was a positive correlation between the CBS and the caregiver factors: psychoemotional disorders, time as responsible for the elderly and education level; as well as between the CBS and the elderly: number of activities with dependence, presence of depression and incontinences. The correlation between the elderly's personal income and number of visits received was negative. The identification of high impacts on the caregivers' life would facilitate the professional approach. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.5117680Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [03/06428-0