Effect of perceived chronic illness management support, health literacy, and social support on the care burden of families caring for older people with multiple chronic conditions at home: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of perceived chronic illness management support, health literacy, and social support on the care burden of families caring for older people with multiple chronic conditions at home.Methods: Families of longterm-care-certified older adults living in Seoul, Korea, were included in this descriptive investigative study. Data were collected from May 25 to June 25, 2022. The families of 195 older patients with multiple chronic diseases completed a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analyses.Results: The mean score of the care burden was 38.27±14.58. The coefficients of determination of the care burden were family support (β=-.29, <i>p</i><.001), understanding of health information (β=-.28 <i>p</i>=.035), problem solving/contextual (β=-.19, <i>p</i>=.023), subjective health status (β=.15, <i>p</i>=.045), and male (β=.15, <i>p</i>=.045). Their explanatory power was approximately 25%.Conclusion: The use of an integrated chronic disease management program to reduce the burden of caring for older people with multiple chronic diseases at home, which can promote the understanding of health information and help solve health problems, and family support programs is necessary.