STUDY OF THE BURDEN OF INFORMAL CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY IN KOKKOLA
Gleviczky, Vincent (2014)
Gleviczky, Vincent
Centria ammattikorkeakoulu (Keski-Pohjanmaan ammattikorkeakoulu)
2014
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014112016104
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014112016104
Tiivistelmä
The aims and objectives of this research were to assess the level of burden among informal caregivers above 65 years old in Kokkola as well as to investigate the variables correlated to the burden.
The study was performed by using a quantitative methodology. Five questionnaires, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Lawton-Brody Index (LBI) and the Barthel Index (BI) were sent to informal caregivers of elderly. The data was analysed using the Software Package for Statistical Analysis (SPSS 18).
The results of the study showed that the average burden level based on the ZBI was 38,52 (±14,35) with half of the respondents were suffering from a mild to moderate burden and one third were suffering from a moderate to severe burden. The level of burden observed among informal caregivers of elderly in Kokkola was significantly correlated to multiple factors. Those factors were a lack of perceived social support for the informal caregiver, a high level of dependency of the informal care receiver, high number of years of care giving, cognitive and behavioural impairment of the informal care receiver and a reduced self rated health and happiness of the informal caregiver.
Caregiver burden being such a complex phenomenon, future studies are needed to fully understand the process leading to burden, the burden itself and the consequences of burden on both the informal caregiver and the care receiver.
Home nurses have a primordial role in assessing and identifying informal caregivers with high burden in order to prevent negative outcomes such as depression and improve the health of both the informal caregiver and the care receiver.
The study was performed by using a quantitative methodology. Five questionnaires, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Lawton-Brody Index (LBI) and the Barthel Index (BI) were sent to informal caregivers of elderly. The data was analysed using the Software Package for Statistical Analysis (SPSS 18).
The results of the study showed that the average burden level based on the ZBI was 38,52 (±14,35) with half of the respondents were suffering from a mild to moderate burden and one third were suffering from a moderate to severe burden. The level of burden observed among informal caregivers of elderly in Kokkola was significantly correlated to multiple factors. Those factors were a lack of perceived social support for the informal caregiver, a high level of dependency of the informal care receiver, high number of years of care giving, cognitive and behavioural impairment of the informal care receiver and a reduced self rated health and happiness of the informal caregiver.
Caregiver burden being such a complex phenomenon, future studies are needed to fully understand the process leading to burden, the burden itself and the consequences of burden on both the informal caregiver and the care receiver.
Home nurses have a primordial role in assessing and identifying informal caregivers with high burden in order to prevent negative outcomes such as depression and improve the health of both the informal caregiver and the care receiver.