MSc Nursing, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, Nitte University, Karnataka, Mangaluru, India
*Corresponding author: Fatima D'silva, PhD Nursing, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, Nitte University, Karnataka, Mangaluru-575018, India. E-mail: ftds_1970@rediffmail.com, Mobile number: 09945064006, Fax No. 0824-2203163
Online published on 27 January, 2017.
The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a Caregiver Support Program (CSP) on Burden and QoL of Caregivers of stroke subjects using Zarit Burden Interview and WHO BREF scale respectively.
AQuasi experimental study was conducted from 2-Nov till 22Dec 2015. The study was conducted in a 1200 bedded tertiary care hospital and a 40 bedded stroke rehabilitation unit. Structured caregiver training comprised usual care plus instruction and relevant hands-on training (tailored to individual patients) for 2hrs for 7 continuous days regarding medication, meeting hygienic needs, continence, prevention of complications related to prolonged immobility, post-stroke exercises, respite care services, nutrition, positioning and lifting, mobility, ADLs, and communication. Usual care comprised general information on management of stroke, informal instruction on facilitating transfers, mobility, and ADLs; and advice and contact information on community services and benefits
Eighty caregivers of stroke subjects, majority in the intervention group (n=40) were males 21(52.5%) and were of the age group of 41-50 years. In the usual care group (n=40) majority were females 23(57.5%) and were between 31-40 years. The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) was effective for reducing the Burden and improving the QoL of Caregivers of stroke subjects (p<.05)
From this study it is evident that the Caregiver Support Programme (CSP) had bought a significant change in the Burden and QoL of the caregiver's. However further research with a multidisciplinary approach is needed to investigate the effectiveness of the Caregiver support program
Caregiver Support Program, Burden, Quality of Life (QoL)
