[Factors associated with the overburden of male and female caregivers of psychiatric patients]

Family functionality and burden of family caregivers of users with mental disorders

OBJECTIVE

to verify the difference of mean or median in the scores of family functionality and burden of family caregivers of people with mental disorders.

METHODS

cross-sectional study carried out in a Psychosocial Care Center with 61 family caregivers. Instruments were used for sociodemographic characterization, care process, Family Apgar Index and Family Burden Interview Schedule. Mean/median difference tests were adopted.

RESULTS

women with mental disorders and the presence of children in the home decreased the median of the family Apgar score. Difficulty in the relationship between caregiver/user, nervousness/tension, physical aggression and agitation of patients increased the global average of subjective burden.

CONCLUSIONS

nursing interventions to reduce burden and promote family functionality should prioritize caregivers of women with mental disorders, assist them in managing troublesome behaviors and raising awareness of family nucleus to co-responsibility for caring for sick people, especially in families with children who demand daily care.

Gender differences in the manifestation of burden among family caregivers of people with mental disorders

This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 537 family caregivers of people with mental disorders. The objective was to quantify the degree of burden experienced by men and women, and identify the most affected dimensions of their lives and the factors associated with burden manifestation by gender. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) scale was used to assess burden. Mean burden was 22.8 points (SD = 6.3) for men and 27.8 points (SD = 17.8) for women. The most affected dimensions among the two groups were the same; however, among the 22 items on the scale, 11 presented significantly higher means among women. The factors associated with the manifestation of burden in both groups were as follows: low income; use of psychotropic drugs; greater degree of dependence of the service user; not receiving family support; and dissatisfaction with family relationships. For men, manifestation of burden was also associated with age. For women, there were further associations of the outcome with the presence of health problems, not having someone to share care with, and caring for the assisted person for >10 years. Our findings suggest that the degree of burden of family members caring for those with mental disorders is associated with gender, and this should be considered by services responsible for planning care shared by professionals and relatives. Guidelines for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE Statement) were adhered to in this study.

My role and responsibility: mothers' perspectives on overload in caring for children with cancer

OBJECTIVE

To understand the experience of maternal overload in caring for children with cancer from the mother's perspective.

METHOD

Symbolic Interactionism was adopted as a theoretical framework and the Grounded Theory as methodological framework. The study was conducted in a public hospital, which is reference in pediatric oncology. Data was collected from six mothers through semi-structured interviews in the second semester of 2017.

RESULTS

Mothers of children with cancer attributed meaning to the care experience when trying to cope with the emotional, social, physical, financial, family-related, information and moral overload. Maternal overload arises as a dynamic inter-relation process between the many types of overload.

CONCLUSION

The maternal figure is the main person involved in care and experiences overload in caring for their sick child, facing limitations and responsibilities. The research acted as a key element to broaden the analysis and intervention of the family nurse, not only contributing to the theoretical construct related to maternal overload, but also and mainly to the scope of practice in patient care.

Nursing diagnoses and NIC interventions in adult males undergoing radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To determine NANDA-I nursing diagnoses and NIC nursing interventions in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy.

METHOD

A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in a research and teaching hospital in western Turkey between June 2016 and June 2017. The sample included adult patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in the immediate postoperative period of radical prostatectomy. Data collection was performed using Gordon's Functional Health Patterns, NANDA-International and Nursing Interventions Classification Taxonomy Systems.

RESULTS

Participants were 54 adult patients. The main nursing diagnoses were in the classes of "physical injury", "self-care", "hydration" and "physical comfort". Some nursing diagnoses were identified in all patients, namely: "risk for deficient fluid volume", "risk for imbalanced fluid volume", "impaired urinary elimination". The most selected NIC interventions were in the classes of "risk management", "elimination management", "coping assistance", "tissue perfusion management" and "self-care facilitation".

CONCLUSION

future studies with larger populations are needed to explore the nursing diagnoses and effects of nursing interventions on patients who underwent radical prostatectomy.

Factors associated with the burden of family caregivers of patients with mental disorders: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Caregivers are responsible for the home care of family members with mental-health disorders often experience changes in their life that can generate stress and burden. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the burden of caregivers of family members with mental disorders.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probability sample of family caregivers, whose patients attended a community services program, the Psychosocial Care Centers, in three cities in the southwest region of Goiás State, Central Brazil. Data collection took place from June 2014 to June 2015. The participants were 281 caregivers who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Bivariate analyses (t test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation) were performed, and variables with values of p < 0.10 and gender were included in a multiple-linear regression model. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

The caregivers were mostly female and parents of the patients, were married, with low education, and of low income. The mean ZBI score was 27.66. The factors independently associated with caregivers' burden were depression, being over 60 years of age, receiving no help with caregiving, recent patient crisis, contact days, and having other family members needing care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified factors that deserve the attention of community services and can guide programs, such as family psycho-education groups, which may help to minimize or prevent the effects of burden on family caregivers responsible for patients' home care.