The impact of stroke on the primary caregiver

Date
2009-12
Authors
Hassan, Soelaylah A. M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A stroke comes suddenly and has a devastating effect on the lives of the patient and the caregiver. It is disabling and often leaves the patient dependent on care. Providing this care can put tremendous physical, emotional, social and financial demands on the caregiver. The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of caregiving on the primary caregivers of patients who suffered a stroke and were admitted to the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC), for intensive rehabilitation during 2006. This is a descriptive study that utilised both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Quantitative data were collected through two data coding forms, one for caregivers and one for patients, the Bartel Index, the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Qualitative data were collected through indepth interviews with caregivers. Fifty-seven caregivers participated in the study. According to CSI findings 58% of caregivers were under levels of strain high enough to require support and intervention. The SWLS indicated that the life areas most adversely affected were employment and self and social life. Loss of employment by the caregiver (p = 0.04) and financial difficulties (p = 0.06), cognitive and perceptual problems (p = 0.01), personality changes (p = 0.01), level of physical dependency of patient (0.0012) and nervous strain experienced by the caregiver (0.01) were found to significantly impact on caregiver strain. Caregivers perceived their caregiving duties as overwhelming and a great strain. This was aggravated in some instances by poor health care service delivery at the time of the stroke, no or inadequate explanations on stroke, poor or no training of caregivers, no home visits and a lack of follow-up services in the community. They experienced the period just after discharge as especially challenging and required support, assistance and guidance at that time. Caregivers identified a need for community rehabilitation facilities, adult day care centres, outpatient rehabilitation services, home-based nursing care and caregiver support groups in the community.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Beroerte gebeur skielik en sonder enige waarskuwing met ’n vernietigende uitwerking op die lewens van die pasiënt asook die versorger. Dit veroorsaak gestremdheid en laat dikwels die pasiënt afhanklik van sorg. Die voorsiening van hierdie sorg kan erge fisiese, emosionele, sosiale en finansiele eise aan die versorger stel. Die doel van die navorsing is om die impak van versorging op die primêre versorger van beroerte pasiënte, wat gedurende 2006 intensiewe rehabilitasie by WKRS ontvang het, te ondersoek. Dit is ’n beskrywende studie wat gebruik gemaak het van beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodes om data in te samel. Kwantitatiewe data was verkry deur twee datakoderingsvorms, een vir pasiente en een vir versorgers, die Bartel Index, die Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) en die Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). In diepte onderhoude was gevoer met versorgers om kwalitatiewe data te verkry. Sewe en vygtig versorgers het aan die studie deelgeneem. Bevindinge van die CSI dui daarop dat 58% van versorgers hoë vlakke van spanning ervaar en ondersteuning sowel as intervensie benodig. Volgens die SWLS was die areas wat die ernstigste be-invloed was werk en eie en sosiale lewe. Die volgende areas het volgens resulate ’n statisties beduidende impak op die spanning wat versorgers ervaar het gehad: finansiële spanning en verlies van werk (p = 0.04), in gevalle waar pasiente persoonlikheids veranderinge ondergaan het (p = 0.01) of kognitiewe en perseptuale skade oorgehou het (p = 0.01) na die beroerte en die emosionele impak van versorging (p = 0.01). Versorgers het hulle versorgings take as oorweldigend en as ’n bron van groot spanning gesien. Dit is in sommige gevalle vererger deur swak ondersteuning van gesondheidssorgdienste direk na die beroerte, geen of swak verduidelikings oor wat ’n beroerte is, geen of swak opleiding aan versorgers, geen tuisbesoeke en ’n tekort aan opvolg dienste in die gemeenskap. Die tydperk direk na ontslag uit die rehabilitasie sentrum was besonder uitdagend en hulle het ondersteuning, hulp en leiding nodig in daardie tyd. Swak ondersteuning en ’n tekort aan of afwesigheid van hulpbronne in die gemeenskap het die situasie vererger. Versorgers het ’n behoefte aan gemeensskapsrehabilitasie fasiliteite, volwasse dagsorg sentrums, buite patiënte rehabilitasie dienste, tuis verpleegsorg en ondersteuningsgroepe uitgespreek.
Description
MPhil (Rehabilitation)
Thesis (MPhil (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Keywords
Stroke, Dissertations -- Rehabilitation, Theses -- Rehabilitation, Assignments -- Rehabilitation, Dissertations -- Medicine, Theses -- Medicine
Citation