EVALUATION OF BURDEN IN INFORMAL CAREGIVERS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the amount of caregiver burden and related factors on informal caregivers. Methods: A descriptive, correlational study was conducted using a convenience sample of informal caregivers of patients assigned to the prostrate health program in the Municipality of Concepción, Chile. Sociodemographic variables were recorded and related to the activity of caregiving, as well as caregiver stress, using the Zarit Burden Scale. Latent dimensions were explored using the Burden Scale to determine the multidimensionality of the phenomenon. Data were recorded in a database and entered into SPSS Statistical Program Version 15.0 and descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: The results are consistent with most studies on the characteristics of the informal caregiver. The profile is a female between ages 54 and 65 who is a daughter, wife and/or mother who cares for her sick family member for more than 8 hours daily, has carried out this work for over 6 years, has not received caregiver training and presents with moderate levels of stress. Conclusions: It is possible to predict caregiver burden in cases where social networks are poor, where health status in the caregiver is worse than one year earlier, and where the caregiver has some physical ailments. It should be a priority in our health system that informal caregiver burden be given attention and that the informal caregiver role not seen simply as adjunctive or collaborative to the formal health system.