1Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
2Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Umaru M. Badaru, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Email: umbadaru.pth@buk.edu.ng OR badaruum@yahoo.com, Mobile: +2348035913759
Online published on 11 July, 2019.
Providing care to stroke survivors takes a huge toll on caregivers, both physically and emotionally. This study evaluated the influence of duration of caregiving on the burden and Quality of Life (QOL) of informal caregivers (CGs) of stroke survivors.
The cross-sectional survey study recruited 100 consenting stroke survivors and their CGs using purposive sampling technique. Caregiving duration and daily caregiving hours were assessed using data capture form. Burden and QOL were assessed with Zarit burden interview and WHOQOL BREF respectively. Data were analysed with Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis as tests of associations and differences between variables respectively using SPSS version 20 at p=0.05 alpha.
The CGs comprised 56(56%) females and 44(44%) males with mean age of 31.73± 12. About 31% of the CGs had mild burden while 53% had good QOL. Significant association exist between daily caregiving hours and each of CGs QOL (X2=14.716; P=0.003) and burden (X218.23; P=0.003). There were significant differences in the QOL and Burden of CGs based on the daily hours of caregiving (P<0.05) but not based on caregiving duration (P>0.05).
Stroke CGs who perform caregiving tasks for twelve or more daily caregiving hours are likely to experience enormous burden and deterioration of their QOL. But duration of caregiving in months or years has no significant influence on the burden and QOL of CGs.
Stroke, caregiving, duration, daily hours, caregiver, burden, quality of life
