Abstract W P375: The Relationship between the State of Preparedness, Social Support, Coping Strategies, and Family Circumstances of Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients before Transition to Home in Japan

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the early return home of stroke patients has been promoted in Japan, and families must consider at-home care not long after the patient’s stroke. There is, therefore, a need to examine methods of home care assistance from an early stage. Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the relationship between the state of preparedness, social support, coping strategies, and family circumstances of family caregivers of stroke patients before transition to home in Japan. Methods: This study was an exploratory study of factor relationships. Data on family caregivers of stroke patients prior to discharge was gathered using demographic data, the Japanese version of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, the Japanese version of the Social Support Questionnaire short-form, and the caregivers’ coping strategies scale. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a Student’s t-test were used for the analysis. Results: There were 95 subjects (approximately 70% of whom were caring for their spouse). Approximately 80% patients were experiencing paralysis, and the mean number of days until transfer from hospital to home was 21.8 days (SD ± 26.7).The state of preparedness had correlation between social support(r=.362, p=.001) and coping strategies(r=.604, p=.001). State of preparedness was higher in non-spouses (t=-2.406, p=.05) and tended to be higher when someone else was living in the house . Furthermore, social support was higher when a care collaborator was present (t=2.714, p=.005). The age and employment of the caregiver, as well as the degree of activities of daily living independence of the patient and number of days until discharge, had no relation to state of preparedness. Conclusion: We concluded that family caregivers of stroke patients before moving home in Japan improve their state of preparedness by receiving support from surrounding individuals and improving their own coping strategies; the state of the patient and family circumstances, however, have no influence. The results of this study suggest that nurses need to provide incrementally improving support from an early stage to increase the support capabilities of those surrounding the patient’s family and enhance the care capabilities of family caregivers.