Investigation of Caregiver Burden, Anxiety, and Depression in Caregivers of the Palliative Patients According to Certain Variables

• Published in: International journal of caring sciences Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 352 - 360
• Main Authors: Soyaslan, Bilge Dilek, Oksuz, Emine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nicosia Professor Despina Sapountzi - Krepia Publisher of the International Journal of Caring Sciences 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Anxiety; Caregivers; Chronic illnesses; Mental depression; Palliative care; Patients; Professional ethics; Professionals; Quality of life; Turkey; Ankara Turkey
• ISSN: 1791-5201; 1792-037X

Background: Caring for patients receiving palliative care can cause physical, psychological, and economic difficulties for their relatives. For this reason, it should be emphasized that in palliative care, attention should be paid to patients' relatives as well as patients. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the burden of care, anxiety, and depression levels in caregivers of palliative patients and the factors affecting these parameters. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in Gulhane Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 100 relatives of the patients, who provided care to the inpatients in the palliative care department, were included in the study. Data were collected using Caregiver Information Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI). Results: According to our study results; caregivers were at risk for depression and anxiety, and their levels of care burden were moderate. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it was found that caregivers were at risk for anxiety and depression, and they had moderate levels of care burden. Care burden was found to be a determinant for the development of anxiety and depression. These results suggest that it would be appropriate to evaluate the care burden in caregivers for palliative care in terms of the development of anxiety and depression.