Health Care Utilization by Children with Disabilities and Evaluation of Factors Affecting Caregiver Satisfaction

Abstract

Aim: Health care is lacking for some level of mental disability for various reasons. The aim of this study was to examine health care utilization by individuals with severe disabilities applied to the health committee of a university hospital and to examine the factors that determine caregiver satisfaction by assessing their burden of care, quality of life, and level of burnout. Methods: Of the 840 disabled individuals who applied to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital, Rize, Turkey between January 2016 and 2019, 48 with severe disability caregivers were included in the study. Their sociodemographic information, level of health care, and caregiver satisfaction were analyzed using sociodemographic data forms. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Family Quality of Life Scale were used to assess the caregiver data. Results: More than half of the 48 children with severe disabilities were male (52.1%).Disabled females and female caregivers appeared to increase the level of emotional burnout of caregivers according to Maslach Burnout Inventory and Family Quality of Life Scale (p:0.01, p:0.05, p:0.02, p:0.03). Groups receiving home care was found with satisfaction. Disabled children and caregivers who were living within an urban area have significant differences with Maslach Burnout Inventory Personal Success (p:0.03). Conclusion: Disability is more of a risk for males. The sex of the disabled individual and caregiver were factors that affected caregiver burnout. Home care services increases caregiver satisfaction. Living within an urban area decreased the level of burnout on caregiver. Keywords: Caregiver burden, caregiver satisfaction, children disabilities, health care, family quality DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/83-01