Predictors of Health Information Needs among U.S. Mainland and Puerto Rican Caregivers

Abstract

Stroke caregivers often do not have the information necessary to adequately manage the stroke recovery process at home. We explore how the educational needs of stroke caregivers vary by race, ethnicity, and place, and their association with caregiver characteristics. We surveyed 276 stroke caregivers living on the U.S. Mainland and in Puerto Rico to assess their educational needs related to stroke recovery. Caregivers report a high overall need for educational materials with Puerto Rican stroke caregivers having greater needs compared to whites and African Americans on the Mainland. Increased caregiver educational needs are associated with greater desire to institutionalize, less positive appraisals of caregiving, greater use of coping strategies, and greater burden. All caregivers can benefit from educational materials, but special attention to island-dwelling Puerto Rican caregivers may provide additional benefit. Future research and interventions should focus on tailoring educational materials for race, culture, and other caregiver characteristics.