Factors Influencing the Burden on Caregivers of Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia Living at Home

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing burden on the caregivers of stroke patients with hemiplegia who live at home under their family’s care. Methods: From July 2009 to July 2013, 20 hemiplegic stroke patients who provided written informed consent and met the following criteria were included in the study: Brunnstrom recovery stage<4, living at home at 6 months after discharge, and Barthel index<95 at 6 months after discharge. Age, sex, number of caregivers, Barthel index, frequency of using nursing-care services, and frequency of voluntary standing or walking training were evaluated as independent variables. Results of the Zarit Burden Interview, which reflects the burden for caregivers, were evaluated as dependent variables. Variables were analyzed with a stepwise regression analysis. Results: Factors that influenced the burden on caregivers were frequency of using nursing-care services, number of caregivers, sex of patients, and frequency of voluntary training. Conclusion: In stroke patients with a high dependence on nursing-care services, the burden on caregivers was large. Caution must be used in extending the findings of this study to general practice, but our study suggests that a higher frequency of voluntary training and a larger number of caregivers reduces the burden on caregivers of stroke patients after discharge.