An analysis of caregiver burden of people providing care for patients with epilepsy

Caregiver burden can be defined as the difficulty, anxiety, and pressure and burden felt by the person who provides care to a child, adolescent, or an elderly family member or someone else with a chronic disease or physical or mental disability. Patients with epilepsy could also cause burden for caregivers. This study was conducted as a descriptive and cross-sectional one in order to analyse the caregiver burden of people providing care for patients with epilepsy Target population of the study was the relatives of all outpatients who were diagnosed with epilepsy and treated in the neurology polyclinic of Adana Dr. Ekrem Tok Psychiatry Hospital between June and November, 2016; and the sample was 122 volunteer patient relatives who met the research criteria. Data were collected through the "Patient and Patient Relative Identification Form" developed by the researcher in line with the related literature and "Caregiver Burden Questionnaire". ZARIT Caregiver Burden Questionnaire mean score of the caregivers who provide care to epilepsy patients in this study was found 27,19±13,70. Caregiver Burden Questionnaire scores increased with the increase in the epilepsy duration (year) (X2=13,753, p=0,003). Presence of someone else with epilepsy in the family increased caregiver burden (Z=-1,995;p=0,046). Caregiver Burden Questionnaire mean scores did not indicate any significant differences in terms of age, gender, marital status, and education level (p>0,05). Results show that caregiver burden increases with the duration of diagnosis and presence of someone else with epilepsy in the family. It was found that burden increased in those who had another epilepsy patient in the family. It is recommended that awareness of nurses should be increased about assessing caregiver burden of people who provide care to epilepsy patients, identifying problems of caregivers in the training and consultancy services, improving their coping skills about these problems and providing them with support.