Assessment of Physical, Emotional and Life Style Burden among Caregiver of Cardiac Patients at Tertiary Care Hospital, Ranchi, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Dr. Hemant Narayan Rai; Dr. Shashi Bhushan Singh; Shashidhar Mishra

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2017

Assessment of Physical, Emotional and Life Style Burden among Caregiver of Cardiac Patients at Tertiary Care Hospital, Ranchi, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Dr. Hemant Narayan Rai, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Singh, Shashidhar Mishra

Abstract :

Background: This manuscript highlights the physical, emotional social and life style burdens among caregivers of cardiac patients. Methods– A cross–sectional, descriptive and hospital based study was carried out. A total of 36 caregivers of cardiac patients were recruited during the period of November 2015 to January 2016 from cardiology department, Rajendra Institute Medical Sciences, Ranchi, India. They were interviewed by Burden Questionnaire for heart failure to assess the burden of caregivers during care giving of the cardiac patients. Results– Majority of caregivers are female (69.40%) and most of them are of productive age (25–49 years) group and most of them are married. 41.7% caregivers reported physical tiredness and 27.8 % had found the deterioration of their health during the act of care giving. Moreover, at the same time 38.9% of caregivers reported care giving being physically hard work and 36.1% had lack of sleep and 36.7% reported body ache during the act of care giving. It was also observed that about 50 % of caregivers felt frustrated, whereas average people were stressed, sad, and had inability to concentrate and focus during their act of care giving. Most importantly, 38.9% of caregivers were worried during care giving and 33.3% were mentally tired and also 44.4 % were emotionally drained. Average caregivers (33.3 %) were overwhelmed during care giving and 33.3% had feeling of loneliness while several people (44.4%) were also found who liked their care giving. It was also noted that 50% had good support from others while, rest lacked that support during care giving. About 44 % Caregivers responded for average impact on relationship with patient and 33.30% had moderate Impact on their relationship with partner, family or friends. We also enquired about their lifestyle and found that about 33.3% felt that they had no time for themselves and even 38.9% of caregivers had avoided making plans. 44.4% of caregivers were unable to go on to vacations during care giving.

Conclusion– Care giving has both positive and negative effects on family caregivers of Cardiac patients.