Burden of Informal Caregiving for Stroke Patients

Vol. 19, No. 1, 2005

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Original Paper

Burden of Informal Caregiving for Stroke Patients
Identification of Caregivers at Risk of Adverse Health Effects
N.J.A. van Exel^a,b, M.A. Koopmanschap^a,b, B. van den Berg^c, W.B.F. Brouwer^a,b, G.A.M. van den Bos^d

^aInstitute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA),
^bDepartment of Health Policy and Management (iBMG), Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,
^cTNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, and
^dDepartment of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Address of Corresponding Author

Cerebrovasc Dis 2005;19:11-17 (DOI: 10.1159/000081906)

Key Words

Stroke
Informal caregivers
Objective burden
Subjective burden
Caregiver strain index
Self-rated burden

Abstract

Background: We assessed the objective and subjective burden of caregiving for stroke patients and investigated which characteristics of the patient, the informal caregiver and the objective burden contribute most to subjective burden and to the condition of feeling substantially burdened. Methods: We studied a sample of 151 stroke survivors and their primary informal caregivers. We collected data through patient and caregiver interviews 6 months after stroke. Results: Both the level of subjective burden and the condition of feeling substantially burdened were associated with both caregiver's and patient's health-related quality of life, patient's age, and the number of caregiving tasks performed. Conclusions: These conditions can be used in clinical practice to identify potentially vulnerable caregivers in need of support and at risk of adverse health effects. Monitoring stroke survivors as well as their family caregivers at discharge may help to prevent or alleviate caregiver burden.

Author Contacts

N.J.A. van Exel
Office L4-121
PO Box 1738
NL-3000 DR Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Tel./Fax +31 10 4082507/9094, E-Mail vanexel@bmg.eur.nl

Article Information

Received: December 1, 2003
Accepted: May 21, 2004
Published online: November 3, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 35

Medline Abstract (ID 15528879)

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