The determi̇nati̇on of copi̇ng levels and care burden of caregi̇̇vers of chroni̇c psychi̇̇atry pati̇̇ents

Aim: This study has been carried out descriptively in a way in order to search the ability on coping with stress and caregiver burden of patients of chronic psychiatric. Material and Method: The study was conducted between February 2015 and November 2015 at the psychiatric polyclinics of İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center. The study population comprised of 316 caregivers for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in accordance with DSM V diagnosis measures between the dates stated above. The sample size was determined by the sampling formula known as the universe sample size 134 caregivers. For data collection " Patient and Caregiver Identification Form", "Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale" and " Ways of Coping Inventory" were used. Descriptive statistics, depended and independent samples t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U Test, Analysis of Variance, Pearson Correlation Test were used in the evaluation of data. Results: The study the caregiver burden total score mean was 59.33±16.75. Average age of individuals providing care is 49.95±13.68 and the majority of them are married and primary school graduate. Care providers are often patients' mothers. It was determined that as the total score mean from the burden of the caregivers increase, their score submitting approach, desperate approach, self confident approach increase too. There is a significiant inverse relationship between the subscale seek social support and the total score mean from the burden interview (p<0.05). In conclusion, social support decreases as the burden increases. Conclusion: This study determine that caregiver have a high level caregiver burden. On the other hand, it was observed that when the attendants faced to a difficulty they were more inclined to use some effective coping( seek social support, self confident approach and optimistic approach) techniques much more than other people. In the direction of the results gathered, awareness of psychiatric nurses was increased on this issue and was supported for family members caring can be recommended.