ANXIETY AND LOW LIFE SATISFACTION ASSOCIATE WITH HIGH CAREGIVER STRAIN EARLY AFTER STROKE

作者：Oosterveer Daniella M; Mishre Radha Rambaran^*; van Oort Andrea; Bodde Karin; Aerden Leo A M

来源：Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2014, 46(2): 139-143.

DOI：10.2340/16501977-1250

• caregiver strain
• stroke
• caregiver strain index
• anxiety
• life satisfaction

Objective: Caregivers play an important role in the wellbeing of stroke patients, and are known to experience considerable strain 3 months or more after patient discharge. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of caregiver strain early after discharge.
Methods: Six weeks after discharge from the hospital or rehabilitation setting stroke-surviving patients and their caregivers were seen by a specialized nurse. Several screening lists, including the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), were completed. Step-wise logistic regression was used to analyse which determinants independently contribute to caregiver strain.
Results: A total of 284 stroke-surviving patients were included in the study. Of the 179 caregivers who completed the CSI, 23 (12.8%) experienced considerable strain. A higher level of anxiety symptoms and lower life satisfaction in patients are independently associated with higher caregiver strain (p=0.000007 and p=0.0031, respectively).
Conclusion: High strain is experienced by 12.8% of caregivers shortly after discharge of a stroke-surviving patient. More anxiety symptoms and lower life satisfaction in patients are independently associated with a higher level of strain in caregivers. Treating patient anxiety at an early stage might therefore lead to a decrease in long-term caregiver strain.

• 出版日期2014-2