Orthopedic Problems in Family Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients

Abstract

Objective: The studies on caregivers focus more on their psychological impact. The caregivers’ orthopedic problems are not taken into consideration. We aimed to determine the orthopedic problems of the patient family caregivers and to examine the relationship with burden of care.Methods: Caregivers of palliative care who look after the patient recieving palliative care at least two months were included in the study. The outcome measurements: Oswestry neck pain questionnaire,arm shoulder hand disability questionnaire (DASH), Western Ontario and McMaster osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), Short Form 36 (SF-36), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and BECK depression inventory (BDI).Results: A cross-sectional study was carried our with fourty-two caregivers who averaged 50 years, were mostly female (81%), married (76%) and housewife (59%). Mean DASH score was 18.82, while Oswestry score was 22.18. According to the IPAQ total score, the cases were in the physically active category (10145 MET). In all SF36 subgroup, there was a statistically insignificant decrease compared to normative values (p> 0,05). Total burden score was 38,64. The ZBI correlated with DASH (r = 0,479), WOMAC (r = 0,453), Oswestry (r = 0,645) many SF36 subgroups (p<0,05) and BDI (p<0,001).Conclusion: There are some orthopedic problems besides psychological problems related to the burden of family caregivers. Strategies should be developed to provide education and support for the development of methods for the prevention and treatment of orthopedic problems affecting the quality of life of family caregivers.