Results of "Self-Help Group" for the Study of Problems and Burden of Caregivers of Stroke Patients

Abstract

Results of "Self-Help Group" for the Study of Problems and Burden of Caregivers of Stroke Patients

Thanyaporn Aranyavalai MSc (Physiotherapy)

Department of Rehabilitation, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To study the problems and burden of caregivers of stroke survivors by the "Self-Help Group".

Study design: Descriptive study.

Subjects: Ten stroke patients who had been admitted at the BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital during January 2006 - June 2007, and their caregivers who volunteered to participate in the "Self-Help Group" study.

Methods: A focus group was conducted to assess the problems of caregiving for stroke patients. The caregiver's burden was scored by the Bakas caregiver outcome scale (BCOS).

Main outcome measures: Problems of caregiving for stroke patients and the BCOS.

Results: The mean age of caregivers was 38.8 ± 2.8 years; four were male and six were female. Regarding relationship to the patients, six were son/daughter, two were spouse, one was parent, and one was other relative. Their average duration of cares was six months; the main daily activities were personal care and cooking. The most frequent problem of the caregivers was coping with the patients'emotion. Thirty percent had financial problem. The group's solutions were setting a precise schedule for the patient's daily activities, promoting exercise to both patients and caregivers, and stimulating the family members to take part in caring and teaching the patient to do some activities by her/himself. Eighty percent of the caregivers were satisfied with such problem solving. The caregivers' BCOS mean score was 64.6; after providing care to the stroke patients, their energy, finance, and general health went down with the scores of 3.5, 3.5, and 3.6 respectively while the self-esteem and relationship to the patients became better with the scores of 5.4 for both items.

Conclusion: Coping with the stroke patients'emotion was the most frequent problem of the caregivers. This led to a worsening in energy, finance, and general health. However, their self-esteem and relationship to the patients were improved.

Vajira Med J 2008 ; 52 : 49 - 55