Examination of burden perception between patients with chronic disease and their caregivers

The aim of this study was to investigate the burden perception between patients with chronic disease and caregivers. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 400 patients and caregivers who applied to Burdur State Hospital between January 2019 and June 2019 and accepted to participate in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and Self-Perceived Burden Scale. The mean total score of Zarit caregiving burden obtained from the study was found to be 23,91 ± 17,24, and the burden of caregivers was found to be mild. The mean score of the patients' self-perception was 23,06 ± 10,29 and it was found that the patients perceived themselves as a burden against their caregivers. It was found that there was a very strong positive correlation between the self-perception of the patients as a burden and the mean scores of the caregiver burden of caregivers (r = .850 p = .000). In conclusion, our study emphasizes the need to measure burden perception among patients with chronic illnesses and caregivers, to raise awareness about the concepts of caregiving and caregiving, and to plan and develop initiatives to reduce the burden that may develop during caregiving and caregiving.