The effect of education given to the mothers of children with hydrocephalus on care burden and anxiety

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled intervention study to determine the effect of education given to mothers of children with hydrocephalus on care burden and anxiety. Forty (n=20 intervention, n=20 control) mothers who had a child diagnosed with hydrocephalus in two university hospitals and who met the sample selection criteria were included in the study. 7 interviews were conducted with the mothers in the intervention group and 3 interviews with the mothers in the control group. Mothers in the intervention group were given education starting from the preoperative period of their children in line with the information in the training booklet. The data of the study were collected using Personal Information Form, Zarit Care Burden Scale (ZCBS), State (STAI-S)-Continuity (STAI-T) Anxiety Scale and Child Follow-up Form. Descriptive statistics, Independent Sample-t test, Repeated Measures test, Pearson-χ2 and fisher exact test were used to evaluate the data. Compared to the intervention group in this study, it was determined that mothers in the control group had more problems in preventing infection, feeding, moving, following shunt complications, giving medication, personal hygiene and care. In addition, it was found that the rate of development of shunt infection was significantly higher in the children of mothers in the control group (p=0,018). It was determined that the care burden of the mothers in the intervention and control groups was mild in all measurements (1st day, 7th day, and 1st month) and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the total mean scores of ZCBS (p>0.05). The state anxiety of the mothers in the intervention and control groups was moderate in all measures; It was determined that the mean state anxiety score of the mothers in the intervention group decreased more than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). A positive, moderate and statistically significant relationship was found between the mean 1st day STAI-S total score and the mean score of ZCBS in the intervention group (r=0.578; p=0.008). A positive, weak and statistically significant relationship was found between the 1st month STAI-S total score averages and the ZCBS total score averages of the intervention group (r=0.455; p=0.044). A statistically significant correlation was found between the mean scores of STAI-S and ZCBS in all measurements of the mothers in the control group (r=0.482 p=0.032; r=0.540 p=0.014; r=0.511 p=0.011). In the study, it was found that the education given to the mothers of children with hydrocephalus reduced the problems experienced, but did not affect the caregiver burden and anxiety. In this regard, it is recommended to conduct studies with larger sample groups.