Caregiver Burden and Its Associated Factors Among Family Caregivers of Hospitalized Patients with Neurocritical Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Overview

Journal J Multidiscip Healthc

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Health Services

Date 2024 Dec 2

PMID 39619164

Authors

Li Wei

Xingying Zhao

Xiaomei Chen

Yuxuan He

Jia Liu

Jishu Xian

Yanni Yang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Providing informal care for patients with neurocritical diseases is a challenging job, and family caregivers usually experience psychological distress and high caregiver burden. Previous studies have focused on caregiver burden for patients in the home rehabilitation stage, while few studies investigate caregiver burden among informal caregivers of early postoperative inpatients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate caregiver burden for caregivers of patients with neurocritical diseases during hospitalization and to identify predictive factors related to caregiver burden.

Methods: From November 2023 to April 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method to assess patients with neurocritical disease and their family caregivers. The fundamental data regarding patients and caregivers were examined. Family caregivers were requested to complete the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Coping Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS-15), the Chinese Auditory Verbal Learning Test of Huashan Version (AVLT-H), the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A). The variables associated with caregiver burden were identified through the use of multiple linear regression analyses.

Results: 300 patients and their family caregivers participated in the study. Predominantly male family caregivers accounted for 55.7%, and the mean age was 46.7 ± 13.1 years. The patients' average age was 52.8 ± 14.3 years, 151 (50.3%) were men, and 153 (50.3%) had brain tumors. The average caregiver burden was 33.94 ± 17.2. Family caregivers of inpatients with neurocritical diseases experienced a mild to moderate caregiver burden. Patients' physical function, caregiver's age, relationship with patients, comorbid chronic disease status, memory function, adaptation level, and anxiety independently predicted caregiver burden, accounting for 66.3% of the total variation.

Conclusion: Family caregivers of inpatients with neurocritical diseases experience mild to moderate level of caregiver burden. Tailored early support plans should be developed based on caregivers' characteristics, including anxiety strategies, memory support, communication optimization, and role adjustment, to reduce their burden.

References

Scherbring M . Effect of caregiver perception of preparedness on burden in an oncology population. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2002; 29(6):E70-6. DOI: 10.1188/02.ONF.E70-E76. View

Berridge C, Devilbiss D, Martin A, Spencer R, Jenison R . Stress degrades working memory-related frontostriatal circuit function. Cereb Cortex. 2023; 33(12):7857-7869. PMC: 10267631. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad084. View

Luker J, Murray C, Lynch E, Bernhardsson S, Shannon M, Bernhardt J . Carers' Experiences, Needs, and Preferences During Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2017; 98(9):1852-1862.e13. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.02.024. View

Zarit S, Reever K . Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist. 1980; 20(6):649-55. DOI: 10.1093/geront/20.6.649. View

Roy C, Bakan G, Li Z, Nguyen T . Coping measurement: Creating short form of Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale using item response theory and patients dealing with chronic and acute health conditions. Appl Nurs Res. 2016; 32:73-79. DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2016.06.002. View

Kate N, Grover S, Kulhara P, Nehra R . Relationship of caregiver burden with coping strategies, social support, psychological morbidity, and quality of life in the caregivers of schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr. 2013; 6(5):380-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2013.03.014. View

Roy C . Research based on the Roy adaptation model: last 25 years. Nurs Sci Q. 2011; 24(4):312-20. DOI: 10.1177/0894318411419218. View

Lonjaret L, Guyonnet M, Berard E, Vironneau M, Peres F, Sacrista S . Postoperative complications after craniotomy for brain tumor surgery. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2016; 36(4):213-218. DOI: 10.1016/j.accpm.2016.06.012. View

Venkatasubba Rao C, Suarez J, Martin R, Bauza C, Georgiadis A, Calvillo E . Global Survey of Outcomes of Neurocritical Care Patients: Analysis of the PRINCE Study Part 2. Neurocrit Care. 2019; 32(1):88-103. DOI: 10.1007/s12028-019-00835-z. View

10.

Sanchez-Lopez M, Liminana-Gras R, Colodro-Conde L, Cuellar-Flores I . Use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Spanish caregivers. Scand J Caring Sci. 2015; 29(4):751-9. DOI: 10.1111/scs.12206. View

11.

Huang M, Wang J, Ni X, Chen G, Kong L . Neurocritical Care in China: Past, Present, and Future. World Neurosurg. 2016; 95:502-506. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.06.102. View

12.

MAHONEY F, BARTHEL D . FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION: THE BARTHEL INDEX. Md State Med J. 1965; 14:61-5. View

13.

Moheet A, Livesay S, Abdelhak T, Bleck T, Human T, Karanjia N . Standards for Neurologic Critical Care Units: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals from The Neurocritical Care Society. Neurocrit Care. 2018; 29(2):145-160. DOI: 10.1007/s12028-018-0601-1. View

14.

Hsiao C, Lu H, Tsai Y . Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life among primary family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study. Qual Life Res. 2020; 29(10):2745-2757. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-020-02518-1. View

15.

Teasdale G, Jennett B . Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Lancet. 1974; 2(7872):81-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)91639-0. View

16.

Liu J, Bai S, Pan H, Huang L . Caregiver Burden and Readiness in Patients with Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: The Chain Mediation Effect of Disease Uncertainty and Mental Resilience. World Neurosurg. 2024; 185:e603-e611. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.02.084. View

17.

Huang N, Tang Y, Zeng P, Guo X, Liu Z . Psychological status on informal carers for stroke survivors at various phases: a cohort study in China. Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1173062. PMC: 10267735. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1173062. View

18.

Wang X, Shao J, Ye Z . Understanding and Measuring Adaptation Level Among Community-Dwelling Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2020; 14:939-947. PMC: 7280238. DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S248126. View

19.

Zigmond A, SNAITH R . The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983; 67(6):361-70. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x. View

20.

Stocchetti N, Carbonara M, Citerio G, Ercole A, Skrifvars M, Smielewski P . Severe traumatic brain injury: targeted management in the intensive care unit. Lancet Neurol. 2017; 16(6):452-464. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30118-7. View