Level of mental burden among caregivers of spinal cord injured patients

Abstract

Objectives. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as damage to spinal cord that result in loss of sensory, motor and autonomic function. With advancement in medical profession, it is reported that the death rate of SCI patients decreases, and patients survive after initial injury therefore, problem extends beyond patients to their family members. Caregiver is responsible to provide emotional, physical and functional support. As a result, burden on caregivers increases, which not only affected them physically but mentally as well. In this study we aimed to find out the mental burden among caregivers of spinal cord injured patients. Methods. Census was conducted among caregivers of SCI patients in paraplegic centre, Peshawar. Data was collected from 80 participants/caregivers, included both male and female. Zarit burden interview scale was used to gather data regarding mental burden from caregivers of SCI patients. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Outcomes. In this study the number of participants who responded to this survey was 80 out of 86 participants. Among these 80 participants, 59 (73.75%) were male while 21 (26.25%) were female with mean age of 31.83 ± 12.050. Participants experienced different intensities of mental burden (11.3% no or little burden, 31.3% mild to moderate, 45% moderate to severe and 12.5% had severe burden. Response to question 3, 4, 20 and 21 was quite different from other questions in questionnaire. Significant difference between means of male and female caregivers regarding mental burden was calculated (p = 0.030). No significant difference between age and total score obtained was found (p = 0.116). Conclusions. Caregivers of SCI patients had moderate to severe level of burden. Response to certain questions in questionnaire was quite different from others. There was significant difference between means of male and female caregivers regarding mental burden and no significant difference between age and total score obtained was found in caregivers of SCI patients.