Effectiveness of a Counseling Intervention to Assist Family Caregivers of Chronically Ill Relatives

The effect of relaxation exercises on burden, burnout, and anxiety levels in palliative caregivers

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of relaxation exercises on burden, burnout, and anxiety levels in palliative caregivers.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The single-group pretest-posttest design was used. The sample of the study consisted of 60 caregivers. Relaxation exercises were administered to caregivers 2 times a week for 4 weeks and 8 times. Burden, burnout, and anxiety levels were evaluated on the preinterventions and postinterventions.

FINDINGS

The mean age of the caregivers was 43.82 ± 10.19 years. The majority of the palliative patients were diagnosed with dementia (58.3%), the duration of diagnosis was between 1 and 5 years (70.0%). It was determined that relaxation exercises reduced to caregivers' burden, burnout, and state anxiety levels (p < 0.01).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The study concluded that relaxation exercises had positive effect on caregivers' burden, burnout, anxiety levels.

Evaluation of quality of life in caregivers who are providing home care to cancer patients

PURPOSE

The author aimed to evaluate the quality of life and the factors affecting the caregivers of cancer patients receiving home care.

METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 48 cancer patients who were served from home care unit and 48 caregivers between 01 and 28 February 2014. Patients' functional status was evaluated with Katz Index for Activities of Daily Living and the Lawton Scale for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. The levels of quality of life of caregivers of patients with cancer were determined with Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC).

RESULTS

The mean age of forty-eight patients was 69.79 ± 16.09 years; 62.5% of them were female. The mean duration of home care was 5.99 ± 5.26 years; 25% of patients were fully dependent on the bed. 83.3% of caregivers were female, mean age of caregivers was 50.75 ± 14.89 years, and 77.1% of them were family members. The mean CQOLC score was 74.43 ± 24.45. The highest score was detected in the financial distress and the lowest score was detected in the positive adaptation. The quality of life is increasing as the length of care is reduced and income status increased.

CONCLUSION

The quality of life of caregivers is very low. Each characteristic of the caregiver will affect the care he/she gives. From this point of view, it is important to consider the characteristics of caregivers in improving the care given to cancer patients. In this respect, there is a need to support caregivers both materially and spiritually.

Effects of Psychoeducation Given to Caregivers of People With a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation given to caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia on their perceptions of burden and on clinical course of patients. This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-post tests and a control group and designed as a nonrandomized controlled intervention trial. While the patients in both the intervention and the control group received treatment as usual (TAU), only the caregivers in the study group were offered two sessions of psychoeducation a week for one month, with a total of eight sessions. Effectiveness of the psychoeducation given was evaluated by comparing scores of Perceived Family Burden Scale (PFBS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) obtained before and three months after delivery between the intervention and the control groups. Mean PFBS burden scores of the control group at baseline and follow-up were 45.7 and 44.5, respectively. Mean PFBS burden scores of the intervention group were 45.2 at baseline and 38.6 at follow-up. Analysis of variance revealed significant and medium to large size interaction effects of time and group factors on total burden scores of family members (F_1.58 = 5.59; p < 0.05; η_p² = 0.09) and on total PANSS scores of patients (F_1.58 = 104.78; p < 0.001; η_p² = 0.64). Our findings suggest that psychoeducation offered to the caregivers along with TAU offered to patients might result in diminished perceptions of burden among caregivers and enhanced improvement in the clinical course of patients as a result of psychoeducation offered to caregivers.

Investigation of the effect of self-efficacy levels of caregiver family members of the individuals with schizophrenia on burden of care

Sixty-two individuals with schizophrenia and their families were part of a descriptive study that investigated the effect of self-efficacy levels on the burden of care, using family member caregivers of schizophrenia patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire on the descriptive characteristics of patients and their families, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. The results for caregivers indicated a total mean self-efficacy score of 76.4±17.76 and a total mean of burden of care score of 68.64±18.60. A negative significant relation was discovered by looking at the correlation between the total mean scores (r=-.260, p<0.05). These results indicate that the burden of care decreases with the increasing level of self-efficacy in caregiver family members.

Le rôle du soutien social, du fardeau familial et de la satisfaction des services dans la détresse psychologique et la qualité de vie des familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie

Cette étude, réalisée auprès d’un échantillon de convenance de 71 familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie, explore au moyen d’analyses de régression, les liens pouvant exister entre le soutien que ces familles reçoivent de leur réseau social personnel, le fardeau associé à leur rôle de parents, leur satisfaction des services en santé mentale, leur détresse psychologique et leur qualité de vie. Trois variables identifiées par les analyses, permettent de prédire 31 % de la variance de la détresse psychologique. Elles sont l’obtention de conseils et d’orientation provenant de leur réseau, le fardeau associé à l’implication dans les activités quotidiennes et la satisfaction des services. Cinq variables permettent d’expliquer 63 % de la qualité de vie. Il s’agit de l’obtention de conseils et d’orientation, la confirmation de leur valeur de la part des membres de leur réseau, le fardeau ressenti lors de l’implication dans les activités quotidiennes, le fardeau associé aux comportements problématiques et enfin la satisfaction des services. Les composantes du soutien social identifiées sont les prédicteurs les plus fortement associés à la santé mentale des familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie.

Psychosocial recovery following ICU: experiences and influences upon discharge to the community

While appropriate referrals to community services upon discharge home may address the physical needs of former intensive care patients, the psychological needs may be overlooked. This pilot study describes the recovery period following discharge to home of former intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their significant others, and identifies factors influencing recovery and the role of community support in the recovery period.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five patients and four significant others, 6 to 15 weeks following discharge from the ICU. Data were analysed using constant comparison to identify recurring categories and themes. The recovery period was characterized by the patients' focus on physical recovery with the major theme described as 'moving on', incorporating normalizing life, return to usual routines, and leaving behind the ICU experience. Factors influencing the recovery period included individual attitudes, prior experiences, the ICU experience and support of family and friends. Community support was not commonly utilized with participants describing a perceived stigma attached to asking for professional help. Attention to physical needs and care often masked the psychological support received, particularly from family members. Despite awareness of community supports, patients were generally reluctant to avail themselves of any of these services.

Effectiveness of Use of Home Health Nurses to Decrease Burden & Depression of ELDERLY CAREGIVERS

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of home health nursing intervention on burden and depression of elderly caregivers who were caring for an ill relative in their home. Two groups of caregivers were compared for differences in caregiver burden and depression. The caregivers in the control group did not use the services of home health nurses, whereas the caregivers in the experimental group did use these services. Data were analyzed using the Burden Interview and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multiple analysis of variance confirmed that caregivers who used the services of home health nurses were significantly less burdened and less depressed than caregivers who did not use these services.