Burden, quality of life and coping strategies of palliative care patients’ caregivers

Abstract

Aim: The burden of the caregiver can affect the caregiver socially, psychologically and physically in time. Since becoming a caregiver is always an unpredictable situation adaptation to this situation takes place after the situation arises. The aim of this study is to examine the attitudes of coping with caregiver burden and quality of life in caregivers of patients hospitalized in palliative care units.
 Materials and Methods: The study was carried out with caregivers of 59 hospitalized patients in the palliative care unit of a university hospital. The Zarit caregiver burden scale was used to determine the caregiver burden, the SF 36 to determine the quality of life, and the COPE self-report scales to reveal the coping attitudes.
 Results: The mean score of Zarit caregiver burden scale in caregivers was 50.7 and was interpreted as a moderate burden. The highest score among the COPE subscale scores was COPE 7 (religious coping) (15.7); the lowest score is COPE 12 (4.4) (Substance use). A significant negative correlation is found between the Zarit caregiver burden scale and the education level of the caregiver (R = -0.291, p = 0.025).
 Conclusion: Caregiver burden is the totality of possible physical, psychological, social or financial responses while providing care. In our country, mostly women, unemployed and low-educated family members become caregiving. In our study, the participants defined a moderate burden, although they provided care to chronic and severe patients. This indicates that in addition to the treatment of patients in palliative care centers, caregivers are also provided with medical, social and psychological support.