Effectiveness of Symptom Management Program on Stress Reduction among Caregivers of Home Complete Dependent Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to compare the effect of symptom management program on stress among caregivers of disabled at home that was 40 qualified cases. 20 cases were the control group, 20 cases were the experiment group by considering on similarity of the caregiver’s age, differed 5 years, the gender of the caregivers and the disability level in the same level. The control group received routine care. The experimental group received the symptom management practice program and the usual care. The program was developed based on the symptom management model of Dodd et al. including 4 stages namely 1) symptom experience assessment, 2) the potential development on the symptom management, 3) self-management at home and 4) evaluation. The instruments were demographic data sheet and stress questionnaire. The stress questionnaire was tested for reliability with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.86 Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics dependent t-test and independent t-test. The research result were The stress score of the experimental group after the end of the program 4 weeks less than that before receiving the program with statistical significance (t=12.089, p<0.05) and The stress score of the experimental group after the end of the program 4 weeks less than the control group with statistical significance (t=12.427, p<0.05)