Winke Pont1,2, Iris Groeneveld1,2,3, Henk Arwert2,4, Jorit Meesters2,3, Radha Rambaran Mishre2,5, Thea Vliet Vlieland1,2,3, Paulien Goossens1,2,3. 1. a Rijnlands Rehabilitation Centre , Leiden , The Netherlands. 2. b Sophia Rehabilitation , The Hague , The Netherlands. 3. c Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation, and Physical Therapy , Leiden University Medical Centre , Leiden , The Netherlands. 4. d Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Haaglanden Medical Centre , The Hague , The Netherlands. 5. e Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis , Delft , The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Many caregivers of stroke patients experience a high burden. This study aims to describe the course of burden in individual caregivers in the first year after stroke. METHODS: This study is part of the Stroke Cohort Outcomes of REhabilitation study, a multicentre, longitudinal cohort study including consecutive stroke patients admitted to two rehabilitation facilities. Caregivers were asked to complete the Caregiver Strain Index and questions on their sociodemographic characteristics 6 and 12 months post admission. Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records. RESULTS: A total of 129 caregivers were included, 72 completed the Caregiver Strain Index twice. Of them, 19 (26.4%) were men, median age 59 (range 27-78) years. A consistently high or low burden was reported by 15 (20.8%) and 49 (68.1%), respectively, whereas 8 (11.1%) reported a high burden at either 6 (n = 3) or 12 months (n = 5). DISCUSSION: In the majority of caregivers of stroke patients the perceived caregiver burden is consistent over time. However, as in 11.1% caregiver burden changes from 6 to 12 months, caregiver burden should be measured repeatedly until 12 months after stroke. Caregivers living together with a patient who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke seem to be more at risk for a high burden. Implications for rehabilitation Many caregivers of stroke patients experience a high burden. The Caregiver Strain Index score at 6 months is a good predictor for the score at 12 months. In some caregivers the high burden is not yet present at 6 months, therefore monitoring caregiver burden throughout the first year after stroke seems warranted. Caregivers living together with a patient who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke seem to be more at risk for a high burden.
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Many caregivers of strokepatients experience a high burden. This study aims to describe the course of burden in individual caregivers in the first year after stroke. METHODS: This study is part of the Stroke Cohort Outcomes of REhabilitation study, a multicentre, longitudinal cohort study including consecutive strokepatients admitted to two rehabilitation facilities. Caregivers were asked to complete the Caregiver Strain Index and questions on their sociodemographic characteristics 6 and 12 months post admission. Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records. RESULTS: A total of 129 caregivers were included, 72 completed the Caregiver Strain Index twice. Of them, 19 (26.4%) were men, median age 59 (range 27-78) years. A consistently high or low burden was reported by 15 (20.8%) and 49 (68.1%), respectively, whereas 8 (11.1%) reported a high burden at either 6 (n = 3) or 12 months (n = 5). DISCUSSION: In the majority of caregivers of strokepatients the perceived caregiver burden is consistent over time. However, as in 11.1% caregiver burden changes from 6 to 12 months, caregiver burden should be measured repeatedly until 12 months after stroke. Caregivers living together with a patient who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke seem to be more at risk for a high burden. Implications for rehabilitation Many caregivers of strokepatients experience a high burden. The Caregiver Strain Index score at 6 months is a good predictor for the score at 12 months. In some caregivers the high burden is not yet present at 6 months, therefore monitoring caregiver burden throughout the first year after stroke seems warranted. Caregivers living together with a patient who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke seem to be more at risk for a high burden.
Authors: Berber Brouns; Leti van Bodegom-Vos; Arend J de Kloet; Sietske J Tamminga; Gerard Volker; Monique A M Berger; Marta Fiocco; Paulien H Goossens; Thea P M Vliet Vlieland; Jorit J L Meesters Journal: J Rehabil Med Date: 2021-03-05 Impact factor: 2.912