Burnout levels and related factors among caregivers of inpatients in palliative care units in Aydın

Burnout Levels and Related Factors Among Caregivers of Inpatients in Palliative Care Units in Aydın Introduction and Aim: The increase in chronic diseases, advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the extension of life expectancy have heightened the need for palliative care. In palliative care, caregivers constitute a crucial part of the care process. Many factors related to the patient, the caregiver and the care process cause the care burden to increase. Interventions for caregivers have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and improve quality of life. This study aims to investigate the level of burnout in caregivers of inpatients in palliative care centers in Aydın and the factors impacting it. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study involved 112 primary caregivers of patients admitted to palliative care units in Aydın between 01.02.2023-31.12.2023. Data were collected using questionnaire items related to the patient and caregiver, as well as the 12-item Short Form of the Caregiving Burden Scale (CBS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: Among the caregivers, with an average age of 50.2±14.1, 84.8% (n=95) were female, 32.1% (n=36) were the patient's children, and 31.3% (n=35) were paid caregivers. The average scale score for caregivers was 13.6±7.9. Caregiving burden was significantly higher among those who were parents of the patients, those with familial responsibilities/family ties, those not actively employed, those experiencing feelings of inadequacy, those with sleep problems, those facing difficulties, those experiencing financial hardship, those feeling a need for psychological support, and those with psychiatric consultations (p<0.05). Conclusion: The caregivers participating in the study were found to be under moderate levels of burden. Increasing care burdens of caregivers also lead to burnout. Conducting studies that address the physical and psychosocial needs of not only patients but also their caregivers will reduce the burden felt by caregivers and increase the quality of care provided. Keywords: Burnout, Care burden, Caregivers, Palliative care