Do asthma and physical inactivity influence the associations of personal and job stressors with perceived stress and depression? Findings from the 1998-1999 California Work and Health Survey

Caregiving burden and its determinants in Polish caregivers of stroke survivors

INTRODUCTION

Despite the growing body of literature on the consequences of providing non-professional care to stroke survivors, the determinants of caregiving burden are still not fully recognized. Identification of significant determinants can facilitate caregiver intervention programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of burden borne by caregivers of stroke patients and to identify the most important determinants of burden at 6 months after hospitalization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected from 150 pairs of stroke patients/caregivers. Caregiver burden was assessed on the Caregiver Burden scale (CB). Several characteristics were measured as potential predictors of the burden. Special attention was paid to the caregiver's sense of coherence (SOC) and anxiety. Regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesized relationships between these variables and the burden.

RESULTS

Forty-seven percentage of the caregivers reported a substantial burden (severe or moderate). Caregiver SOC (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001) and the patients' functional status (p < 0.001) were the most important predictors of the overall burden and the most consistent predictors of the majority of aspects included in the CB scale. Caregiver health, patient's gender, time spent caregiving and social support were also factors related to the burden. The identified predictors explained 67% of the variance in the overall burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians and other professionals should focus on the coping abilities of caregivers, their emotional state and the level of patients' dependency, as these are the vital and modifiable factors affecting caregiver burden following stroke.

Effects of recreational physical activity and back exercises on low back pain and psychological distress: findings from the UCLA Low Back Pain Study

OBJECTIVES

We sought to estimate the effects of recreational physical activity and back exercises on low back pain, related disability, and psychological distress among patients randomized to chiropractic or medical care in a managed care setting.

METHODS

Low back pain patients (n=681) were randomized and followed for 18 months. Participation in recreational physical activities, use of back exercises, and low back pain, related disability, and psychological distress were measured at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6, 12, and 18 months. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to estimate adjusted associations of physical activity and back exercises with concurrent and subsequent pain, disability, and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Participation in recreational physical activities was inversely associated--both cross-sectionally and longitudinally--with low back pain, related disability, and psychological distress. By contrast, back exercise was positively associated--both cross-sectionally and longitudinally--with low back pain and related disability.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that individuals with low back pain should refrain from specific back exercises and instead focus on nonspecific physical activities to reduce pain and improve psychological health.