Evaluation of care burden and fatigue of stroke patients' caregivers

Background and Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the caregiver burden and fatigue levels among individuals providing care for patients diagnosed with stroke. Material and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out between March 2024 and February 2025 with 103 caregivers of stroke patients hospitalized in the neurology ward of a state hospital. Eligible participants were caregivers aged 18 years or older, who were relatives of stroke patients and had no communication difficulties. Data were collected using the "Socio-Demographic Information Form," the "Caregiver Burden Scale,", the "Modifiye Rankin Scale" and the "Chalder Fatigue Scale." Results: The mean age of caregivers was 53.65±13.32 years, and 75.7% were female. Among participants, 48.5% had chronic illnesses and 41,7% reported income less than expenses. The mean caregiver burden score was 36,99±13.14, and the mean fatigue score was 15,48±5,19. As the caregiver burden increased, general, physical and mental fatigue levels of the caregivers were found to be significantly increased too (p<0.05). Conclusion: Moderate caregiver burden and high fatigue levels have been identified among caregivers of stroke patients. It was found that caregivers' burden and fatigue levels affected by the patients' dependency level, duration of illness and caregivers' age and genders. It is recommended that nurses assess not only the patient but also the caregiver during the care process, providing information and supportive interventions. Keywords: Nursing, stroke, caregiver burden, fatigue, caregiver