The effect of simulation-based training on caregivers of burn patients' preparedness of care and caregiving burden

The study was conducted as a randomized controlled study in order to determine the effect of scenario-based, simulation-based discharge training on the caregivers' readiness for care and the caregiving burden of caregivers who provide home care to burn patients. The population of the study consisted of relatives who will provide home care to adult patients who have been hospitalized in Hacettepe University Adult Hospital Burn Unit and Gülhane Training and Research Hospital Burn Center since 15.11.2020. The study was continued until 60 participants were reached in the study. In the study, participants in the intervention group and the control group were assigned with the block randomization method. Data were collected between the dates of 13.03.2021 and 22.03.2022 with the questionnaires prepared by the researcher, the "Preparedness for Caregiving Scale" and the "Caregiving Burden Scale". In the implementation of the study, standard discharge training was given to the caregivers in the control group, and a booklet was given before discharge. Simulation-based training was given to the simulation group after the standard training. The Preparedness for Caregiving Scale was applied to all participants before and after the training. One month and three months after discharge, the Caregiving Burden Scale was administered. Unemployed women were the majority in both groups, and these women were mostly the spouses or mothers of the burn patients. While the mean age of the participants was 43.77±9.84 years in the simulation group, it was 44.53±11.49 years in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of socio-demographic data. While there was no statistically significant difference in terms of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale scores of the caregivers before the training, it was found that the mean score of the simulation group after the training was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of Caregiving Burden Scale score at the 1st and 3rd months after discharge (p<0.05). Accordingly, the Caregiving Burden Scale score was higher in the control group at the 1st and 3rd months after discharge than in the experimental group (p<0.05). In addition, fewer problems were observed in burn patients who were given home care by the caregivers in the simulation group compared to the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). As a result of the research, it was determined that simulation-based discharge training is more effective than standard training in preparing caregivers for care and reducing the burden of caregiving.