J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2011 Dec;22(4):389-398. 10.12799/jkachn.2011.22.4.389.

Factors Influencing the Burden Felt by Main Family Caregivers of Elderly Patients with Brain and Spinal Diseases

• Park HK
• Park KM

• KMID: 2293217
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2011.22.4.389

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study of this study was to identify factors influencing the burden of main family caregivers who take care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases.
METHODS
This was conducted as descriptive research and data were collected from 255 main family caregivers who were taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases from 4 hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province. Stepwise-multiple regression was used to identify the influencing factors of burden felt.
RESULTS
As the score of burden felt by the main family, economic, social, physical, interdependent and emotional burdens were high in order. Factors influencing burden felt by main family care givers taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases were changed relation with patient after hospitalization, daily life ability, marital status, education and family caregiver's personality (explanatory power of 24.6%). Family caregivers felt a heavier burden when their relation with the patient was changed negatively or when the patient's activity of daily living was low.
CONCLUSION
Based on these results, we need to develop coping measures and interventional programs for reducing the burden felt by the main family caregivers of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases.

Keyword

Burden of illness; Caregivers; Elderly; Brain diseases; Spinal diseases

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Brain Diseases
Brain*
Caregivers*
Cost of Illness
Daegu
Education
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Hospitalization
Humans
Life
Marital Status
Spinal Diseases*