Studying caregiving burden in family caregivers of dementia patients

• Main Authors: Pei-Ling Tseng, 曾珮玲
• Other Authors: 陳心怡
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/10621703699015980214

碩士 === 中山醫學大學 === 醫學社會暨社會工作學系碩士班 === 102 === Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the factors associated with caregiver burden in the provision of care to patients with dementia. Method: A total of 105 dementia patient-caregiver pairs participated in the survey. Using the Chinese version of the Zarit Burden Interview, the demographic information of patients and caregivers was collected. Meanwhile, factors associated with caregiver burden were measured. Results: According to the results of data analysis, fifty-eight percent of caregivers were female and 64% were the patient’s daughter or son. The average duration of care was 4.1 years and the average time spent on care was12.7 hours per day. Factors such as anxiety, economic status and social support were independent predictors of caregiver burden (adjusted R2 = 0.44; p =.000) on multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Caregiver burden was associated with variables such as duration of caregiving, economic status and anxiety. Characteristics of patients such as ADL and behavioral symptoms also affected level of burden of caregivers. It is suggested that family caregiver burden be considered when practitioners assess and provide interventions for patients with dementia. Key words: burden, caregiver, dementia, social support