Caregiver Burden and Spiritual Well-being in Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients

Religious Coping and Fatalism on Perception of Care Burden in Caregivers of Patients with Cerebral Palsy in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional and Correlational Study

Providing care to a patient with cerebral palsy can have many negative impacts upon caregivers. This study was carried out to define caregiving burden in the caregivers of cerebral palsy patients and determine the relationships between religious coping, fatalism, and burden of care. This cross-sectional and correlational study included 132 caregivers. Data were obtained using the Religious Coping Scale, the Fatalism Scale, and the Caregiver Burden Scale. It was determined that 18.9% of the participants experienced a heavy care burden. The luck and pessimism dimensions of the Fatalism Scale were positively and weakly correlated with caregiving burden (p < 0.01), while there was no correlation between caregiving burden and positive or negative religious coping styles (p > 0.05). Perception of fatalism explained 10% of the total variance in caregiving burden (R = 0.329, R2 = 0.109, F = 5.195, p = 0.002). It is recommended that caregivers be supported by religious experts to strengthen positive religious coping styles and advisable fatalism perceptions.

The Effect of Spiritual Care on Hope in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Referred to the MS Association of Hamadan in Iran

The negative impact of hopelessness on mental health makes multiple sclerosis (MS) disease unmanageable. This study aimed to determine the effect of spiritual care on hope in MS patients. In the present randomized controlled trial study, 70 MS patients were selected from the MS Association of Hamadan, Iran, and randomly allocated to intervention and control groups (35 patients per group). A demographic characteristic form and Snyder's Adult Hope Scale were completed before and after the intervention. Spiritual care was provided in weekly group sessions held for four weeks (45-60 min each). The data were analyzed using SPSS-16. Before the intervention, there were no significant between-group difference (P = 0.323). After the intervention, a significant between-group difference was observed (p < 0.001). There was also a significant increase in the mean of hope scores in the intervention group from baseline to follow-up (within-group difference) (p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between baseline and follow-up in the control group (p = 0.38), confirming the effectiveness of spiritual care in improving hope. Given the impact of spiritual care on increasing patients' hope and improving their psychological state, nurses are advised to devote adequate time to their patients' spiritual needs.

Burden levels and predictive factors among caregivers of hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study in Oman

BACKGROUND

Caring for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly demanding task that can adversely affect the physical and psychological well-being of caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the burden experienced by caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in Oman and explore the factors associated with this burden, including demographic and medical characteristics.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional was employed. Caregiver burden was assessed, and demographic and medical variables were examined among caregivers of HD patients. A total of 326 unpaid family caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview scale, demographics and some medical variables. Linear multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify factors linked to caregiver burden.

RESULTS

Of the caregivers, 62.9% reported a minimal burden, 21.8% experienced mild-to-moderate burden, 8.6% faced moderate-to-severe burden, and 6.7% encountered a severe burden. The final multiple regression model demonstrated statistical significance compared to the constant (F = 8.68, p < 0.001), with eight predictors explaining 18% of the variance, and caregivers' satisfaction with health emerged as the only significant predictor.

CONCLUSION

A substantial portion of caregivers reported minimal burden. These findings suggest the need for further in-depth investigations into factors contributing to this favourable outcome. Furthermore, caregivers' satisfaction with health was the only significant predictor of their burden. Healthcare providers need to give special attention to this point and conduct periodic assessments of the primary caregivers' health. Implementing improvements in the healthcare system based on these findings could enhance the overall caregiving experience for HD patients and their caregivers.

Care burden and the predictive role of spiritual well-being and religious coping: A cross sectional study among Iranian family caregivers of patients with stroke

Background and Aims

The burden of care after a stroke is gaining recognition as a significant healthcare issue. Factors like religion and spirituality, encompassing religious coping and spiritual health, prove to be influential in anticipating the challenges faced by caregivers. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between care burden, spiritual health, and religious coping among caregivers of stroke patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional research was conducted with the participation of 129 caregivers of stroke patients. The data was collected using the Ellison and Paloutzian spiritual well-being instruments, Pargament Religious Coping (RCOPE) brief version, and the Zarit burden interview (ZBI). Through a census, participants were recruited for the investigation. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate linear regression analysis).

Results

The study results indicate a strong and statistically significant relationship between the burden of caring and spiritual health (p < 0.001, β = 0.33). Furthermore, specific variables were identified as indicators of an increased burden of care, including positive religious coping (p = 0.04, β = 0.63), the familial relationship between the caregiver and patient, specifically as a child (p = 0.001, β = 29.26), and a sister (p < 0.001, β = 35.93).

Conclusion

It is advisable to consider adopting and implementing appropriate support measures for coping strategies rooted in religion and spirituality. So, it is recommended to enhance the provision of comprehensive support, including psychological and religious interventions. This can be achieved through the collaborative efforts of support groups comprising psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and religious experts.

A cross-sectional study: caregiver burden and related determinants of adult patients with β-thalassemia major in mainland China

BACKGROUND

The informal caregivers of adult patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) bear not only physical but also emotional and economic pressures of providing care. This study is the first to evaluate the caregiver burden by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) of adult patients with β-TM in mainland China and to identify predictors of caregiver burden.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we conducted an online survey with snowball sampling covering seven provinces between September 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, of patients aged ≥ 18 years with β-TM and their informal caregivers. Caregiver burden was assessed using the ZBI. Data on patient demographics, disease and therapy characteristics, and informal caregivers' demographic characteristics were collected and analysed using independent t-tests, analysis of variance, Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Of 75 included patients, more than half (50.7%) were male. The mean patient age was 24.69 ± 5.59 years. The mean age of the informal caregivers was 50.60 ± 9.16 years, with women (74.7%) being predominant. The ZBI score was 38.00 ± 17.02. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that patients with interrupted blood transfusion therapy and informal caregivers required to care of others were positively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.05). Age of informal caregivers were borderline significant positively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.1). Married informal caregivers were negatively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The informal caregivers of adult patients with β-TM in mainland China experienced a moderate-to-severe level of caregiving burden. The caregiver burden was higher in patients with a history of interrupted blood transfusion therapy or in informal caregivers who were older or needed to care for others. Additionally, married informal caregivers experienced lower burdens compared to non-married informal caregivers. These findings provide a reference to identify informal caregivers with higher burdens among patients with β-TM.

Assessment of Burden in Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A caregiver attends to the needs or concerns of someone limited by disease, injury, or disability to enhance the patient's quality of life, which can be assessed in three areas: social, physical, and psychological. This cross-sectional study assessed the extent of burden experienced by the caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy in King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Zarit Burden Interview Arabic Abridged version (ZBI-A) was used to assess the level of burden experienced by caregivers. The data was collected and examined by professionals using the SPSS version 23. Based on the data of 50 participants, a mean ZBI-12 score of 12.22 ± 7.2 was reported. According to the ZBI scale, "No to mild burden," "Mild to moderate burden," and "High burden" were reported as 46% (n = 23), 38% (n = 19), and 16% (n = 8) of participants, respectively. The internal consistency of the ZBI-12 scale, assessed using Cronbach's alpha, was 0.664, indicating a satisfactory level of internal consistency. It was determined that caregivers of individuals undergoing PD and HD encounter different degrees of burden, with a significant proportion of caregivers experiencing a substantial burden.

Spirituality and Spiritual Distress in Parkinson's Disease Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Despite recognition that spiritual concerns contribute to caregiver burden, little is known about spirituality, spiritual well-being, and spiritual distress in Parkinson's disease caregivers. In this scoping review of the literature through October 2022, we searched PubMed, PsychINFO, Embase, and CINAHL. From an initial pool of 328 studies, 14 were included. Caregiver factors (e.g., depression, age) and patient factors (e.g., faith, motor function) affected caregiver spirituality and spiritual well-being. Caregivers experienced loss of meaning, existential guilt, and loneliness, and coped through acquiescence, cultural beliefs, prayer, and gratitude. Future research should focus on the specific spiritual needs of Parkinson's disease caregivers and interventions to address them.

Relationship Between the Psychological Distress and Spiritual Well-Being in Pregnant Women Exposed to Domestic Violence: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

Maternal psychological distress is often associated with domestic violence. Spiritual well-being can affect the psychological capacity to deal with distress. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological distress and spiritual well-being in pregnant women exposed to domestic violence. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 305 pregnant women subjected to domestic violence in southern Iran. The participants were selected using the census method. Data were collected using the Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWB), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream (HITS) screening tool (short form) and were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, the Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression) in SPSS software version 24. The mean scores ± standard deviation of the participants' psychological distress, spiritual well-being, and domestic violence were 24.68 ± 6.43, 79.89 ± 18.98, and 11.24 ± 1.5, respectively. The results showed that psychological distress had a significant negative correlation with spiritual well-being (ρ = - 0.84, P < 0.001) and domestic violence (ρ = - 0.73, P < 0.001). The results of the multiple linear regression analysis also showed that spiritual well-being and domestic violence could predict the psychological distress of pregnant women who were exposed to domestic violence, which explained 73% of the psychological distress in the participants. According to the study results, spiritually oriented education can be provided for women to reduce their psychological distress. Also, it is recommended that necessary interventions be used to reduce domestic violence and empower women to prevent it.

Spiritual Well-Being and Care Burden in Caregivers of Patients with Breast Cancer in Turkey

This research was carried out to identify the relationship between the spiritual well-being and caregiver burden in caregivers of patients with breast cancer. The study was conducted with family caregivers of patients with breast cancer who presented to the oncology clinic of a university hospital for treatment. The study sample included a total of 138 family caregivers who met the criteria for participation and agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using a participant information form, caregiver burden scale and three-dimensional spiritual well-being scale. The caregivers have a moderate level of caregiver burden and their spiritual well-being was quite high. The caregiver burden of female caregivers was found to be significantly higher than that of male caregivers (p = 0.040). There is a negatively significant relationship between caregiver burden and spiritual well-being (p = 0.000, r =  - 0.357). The caregiver burden is significantly higher among the 24-h caregivers compared to that among the 3-h and 4-6-h caregivers (p = 0.003). The spiritual well-being of the caregivers who provide care between 3 h and 4-6 h a day was significantly higher than that of those who provide 24-h care (p = 0.001). Increasing spiritual well-being may help to reduce caregiver burden in caregivers of those with breast cancer.

Quality of life of caregivers of end-stage kidney disease patients: Caregivers or care recipients?

BACKGROUND

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients require specific and continuous care, which affects caregivers' quality of life (QOL). It is necessary to define the basic problems and restrictions upon family caregivers of renal patients affecting their physical and psychological status.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this narrative review were to examine the literature over the past 10 years, to describe factors associated with QOL of caregivers of patients with ESKD, and to identify the level of subjective burden reported by caregivers.

METHODS

A literature search was carried out using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Medscape, Science Direct, Scopus, PsychINFO and other scientific sources. Keywords included 'quality of life', 'caregivers', 'end stage kidney or renal disease patients', 'burden' and a combination of these terms. Only studies from January 2010 to December 2020 were included in this study.

RESULTS

The results found that there was significant burden and distress experienced by caregivers that affected their QOL. Patients' QOL is associated with caregivers' QOL. The hours of caring per day and the long-term replacement therapy are associated with great burden.

CONCLUSIONS

More awareness to caregivers' QOL is required to meet their needs, reduce anxiety and to improve patients' QOL. Caregiver support could empower and prepare them for initiation of replacement therapy. This can potentially enhance their diseased family members' QOL and could also restrict the use of health care system resources. Given how difficult it is to conceptualize QOL, a holistic approach to patients and caregivers require QOL assessment in each stage of the kidney disease.

Burden, depression and anxiety effects on family caregivers of patients with chronic kidney disease in Greece: a comparative study between dialysis modalities and kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Burden of caregivers is a status that was identified as a consequence of daily care. Anxiety and depression are probably related to complex tasks interwined with the care of a family member suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD).

PURPOSE

To examine the experienced burden, anxiety and depression of Greek caregivers of patients with End-Stage CKD on dialysis as well as kidney transplant recipients (TX) in relation to their demographic profile and to compare among the groups.

METHODS

A total of 396 participants (198 couples of patients and caregivers) were recruited. Structured interviews and self-completed questionnaires were obtained from patients undergoing dialysis modalities as well as TX (28 peritoneal dialysis patients, 137 hemodialysis patients, 33 TX) and their caregivers. Zarit Burden Interview, Beck Depression Inventory and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scales were used as screening tools.

RESULTS

The majority of caregivers were females (67.2%), with a median age of 58 years. Total burden was indicated as mild to moderate (Mdn = 36 (24-51)). Caregivers of haemodialysis (HD) patients showed the highest burden (Mdn = 40 (26-53)) followed by peritoneal dialysis(PD) (Mdn = 29 (25-51)) and TX group (Mdn = 28 (21-43)) (p = 0.022). Caregivers' depression and anxiety were related to the type of patients' treatment, as well. Caregivers of HD and PD patients reported significantly higher depression (Mdn = 11 (5-18)) and anxiety scores (Mdn = 3 (2-5)) in comparison to TX caregivers (Mdn = 6 (2-13) and Mdn = 2 (2-4)) (p = 0.045 and p = 0.04, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of TX patients appeared to have less burden, depression and anxiety levels compared with caregivers of patients on dialysis modalities. Caregivers' burden is significantly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, gender, duration of caregiving, educational level, financial status and caregivers' age.

Caregiving Burden of Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients and Factors Affecting It

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the caregiving burden of caregivers of patients receiving Hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Methods: The research was conducted with 107 caregivers of patients receiving HD treatment at State Hospital and Private Dialysis Center. The entire population was intended to be reached by avoiding the use of samples. The universe has been explored to an extent of 89%. Between 1 June and 1 July 2022, the researchers visited HD centers and conducted in-person interviews to gather the data. The demographic data of both patients and caregivers were collected using a 16-item “Descriptive Information Form” and the “Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS)”. Results: The mean caregiving burden score of the participants was 47.53 ±13.87. Among the patients, 39.3% were between the ages of 41-60 and 40.2% were between the ages of 61-80. 85.7% of caregivers were 60 years old or younger. 75.7% of caregivers were women. There was a significant relationship between patient education level and caregiver burden. Caregivers with university degrees had a lower caregiving burden. The degree of caregiver burden was found to vary greatly depending on the caregiver’s age, marital status, occupation, and closeness to the patient. The caregiver burden was found to be favorably influenced by age and relationship with patient in the regression analysis of the caregivers’ demographic data. Conclusion: It was determined that the caregivers had a moderate level of caregiving burden.

Bienestar psicológico en enfermeras que realizan terapia de reemplazo renal en tiempos de COVID-19

Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 ha generado deterioro de la salud mental en los profesionales del sector salud, siendo desconocida su situación en las enfermeras al cuidado de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Objetivo: Identificar el bienestar psicológico y sus diferencias de acuerdo a las variables demográficas y profesionales en enfermeras que realizan hemodiálisis en tiempos de COVID-19. Material y Método: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo transversal, realizado en 52 enfermeras que realizan terapia de reemplazo renal en unidades de cuidado intensivo y de terapia renal en tiempos de COVID-19. Fueron obtenidas variables de tipo sociodemográfico, académico, laboral y se empleó la escala PGWBI para establecer los niveles de bienestar psicológico. Se utilizó el test de Mann-Whitney y Kruskall-Wallis realizando el post test de Dunn para comparar diferencias entre las variables estudiadas. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 36,56±6,95 años. Los niveles de bienestar psicológico fueron positivos en todas las categorías de la escala, con excepción de la ansiedad y la depresión. De igual forma, se encontró que las variables género, estado civil, estabilidad, antigüedad laboral, remuneración salarial y formación académica, muestran comportamiento diferenciado en las categorías que evalúa el instrumento. Conclusiones: Se identificaron altos niveles de bienestar psicológico en enfermeras que prestan cuidados en pacientes en terapia de reemplazo renal en tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19, donde factores como el estado civil, formación post gradual y tener estabilidad laboral con mejores ingresos salariales, influencian positivamente las categorías que contribuyeron a los resultados de bienestar psicológico de las enfermeras evaluadas.

Spiritual Self-care in Stroke Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Self-care and quality of life challenges significantly affect post-stroke life. Stroke patients look for strategies to improve their performance and cope with their new situation. The aim of this study was to explore spirituality in self-care from the perspective of stroke survivors in the northwest of Iran. Purposive sampling is done on 15 participants through Semi-structured interviews of obtained data through conventional content analysis approach. Two categories of "spiritual self-care" as the main theme included "supplication" comprising subcategories of "worship and prayer", "resort" and "trust" and "religious beliefs" with subcategories of "divine providence" and "divine blessing". Based on results of this study, Spirituality increases motivation for self-care and adaptation, reduces stress and helps patiently manage diseases as realities.

Knowledge Requirements and Unmet Needs of Informal Caregivers of Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) Receiving Haemodialysis: A Narrative Review

Background: Patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis rely heavily on informal caregivers to support them living at home. Informal caregiving may exact a toll on caregivers’ physical, emotional, and social well-being, impacting negatively on their overall quality of life. The aim of this narrative review is to report knowledge requirements and needs of informal caregivers of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving haemodialysis. Methods: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). Five electronic databases were searched: Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, and CINAHL to identify the experiences and unmet needs of informal caregivers of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving haemodialysis. Results: Eighteen papers were included in the review and incorporated a range of methodological approaches. There are several gaps in the current literature around knowledge and informational needs and skills required by informal caregivers, such as signs and symptoms of potential complications, dietary requirements, and medication management. Although most research studies in this review illustrate the difficulties and challenges faced by informal caregivers, there is a paucity of information as to which support mechanisms would benefit caregivers. Conclusion: Informal caregivers provide invaluable assistance in supporting people with ESKD undergoing haemodialysis. These informal caregivers however experience multiple unmet needs which has a detrimental effect on their health and negatively influences the extent to which they can adequately care for patients. The development of supportive interventions is essential to ensure that informal caregivers have the requisite knowledge and skills to allow them to carry out their vital role.

Factors Associated with Burden in Caregivers of Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease (A Systematic Review)

BACKGROUND

Caring for a patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is highly stressful and can impact negatively on the physical and psychological well-being of caregivers. To accurately assess caregiver burden (CB), health care providers (HCPs) need to identify characteristics associated with an increase in CB.

AIM

The aim of this review is to explore CB in caregivers of adult patients with ESKD and to identify characteristics associated with any increase in CB.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature search was completed using five electronic databases. Medline, Embase, CINHAL, PsycINFO, and Scopus. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist (JBI) was used to quality appraise full text papers included in the review. No time limit for the date of publication of studies was employed, to enable the inclusion of more extensive literature.

RESULTS

A total of 38 relevant studies from 18 countries were identified and included in the review. A variety of patient and caregiver factors can impact positively or negatively on CB, including socio-demographic factors of patients and caregivers, disease-related factors, situational and relational factors, environmental factors, and psychological factors.

CONCLUSION

This review provides awareness to HCPs of the important factors associated with CB, when assessing or targeting interventions for caregivers experiencing burden.

Burden and social support in informal caregivers of people undergoing kidney dialysis: a mixed study

OBJECTIVES

to analyze the burden and the social support of the informal caregivers of people undergoing kidney dialysis.

METHODS

mixed study, based on the Theory of Stress and Overload, using instruments of sociodemographic characterization, the Social Support Survey from the Medical Outcomes Study, Zarit's Burden Scale, and guiding questions. Analysis of data used statistical and thematic inferences.

RESULTS

55 caregivers were evaluated, most were women, from 31 to 50 years old, married, and having worked in care for more than three years. A high level of affective and material support was observed, with a light overload on the caregiver. The central theme of the discourses was: "Experiences of the caregiver: between the burden of responsibility and the search for meaning".

CONCLUSIONS

a small overload was found in the participants, with a high median in the dimensions of affective and emotional support, in the relations between positive social interactions and the burden of the caregivers, in addition to the duality or responsibility and the meaning of care.

Effectiveness of Spiritual Counseling on the Enhancement of Hope in Iranian Muslim Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Two-Month Follow-Up

Hope is the most important source of coping in patients who have experienced acute cardiac events, and despair is considered an important cause of discontinued treatment and a threat to patients' mental health. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of spiritual counseling on hope in patients with myocardial infarction over a two-month period. Fifty-six Iranian Muslim patients with myocardial infarction participated; participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 28) or the control group (n = 28). The experiment group received three sessions of group spiritual counseling. The patients' hope was measured before intervention and immediately, one month, and two months after the intervention. The results indicated that no significant difference in hope was present between the intervention and control groups at baseline (Z = - 2.56, effect size = 0.75, P = 0.1). Significance between-group differences favoring the intervention group, however, were noted immediately post-intervention (Z = - 2.72, effect size = 0.91, P = 0.007), one month afterward (Z =  - 6.22, effect size = 3.14, P < 0.001), and two months afterward (Z = - 6.10, effect size = 2.65, P < 0.001). Hope significantly improved in the intervention group during the study. Utilizing spiritual counseling as an effective non-aggressive form of treatment can improve hope among patients with myocardial infarction.