The care burden and social support levels of caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

AimThis study aims to identify the relationship between social support, level of disability of patients and burden of care perceived by caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis. MethodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with family caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis admitted to the neurology clinic of a university hospital in eastern Turkey. Of the family caregivers of patients with MS, 98 family members participated in the study. The study data were collected using the “Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZCBI)”, “Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)” and “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)”. ResultsThe mean burden of care score of the family members was 30.67±15.66, and the mean social support score was found to be 54.88±20.02. A negative significant correlation was found between the mean social support and burden of care scores of caregivers (r=−0.38, p<0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation between mean burnout scores of caregivers and the loss of ability of the patients was found (r=0.32, p<0.01). ConclusionThe burden of care decreases as the social support perceived by the caregivers increases. The burden of caregivers increases with the increasing disability of the patients.