Burden of Care and Psychological Distress in Primary Caregivers of Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in A Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Health Sciences, Jimma University Ethiopia
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Caregivers play an important role in the
management and care of individuals with chronic medical
conditions. This is because; they provide emotional, physical,
financial as well as spiritual support to their wards. However, the
process of caregiving is usually associated with feelings of burden
and psychological distress.
METHODS: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, clinicbased
study
done
at
the
endocrinology
clinic
of
a
Teaching
hospital
in
Northern Nigeria. It was done utilizing the Zarit Burden
Interview, the General Health Questionnaire (12 item version) and
a socio-demographic questionnaire designed by the authors. The
levels of burden as well as the factors associated with burden and
psychological distress in one hundred caregivers of patients with
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were assessed. Statistical analysis was
done using chi square, independent T test and linear regression.
RESULTS: Forty- two percent (42%) of caregivers experienced
little or no burden, 47% had mild to moderate burden, 8% had
moderate to severe burden, while 3% had severe burden. When the
ZBI scores were dichotomized into ‘low’ and ‘high’ burden, 89%
were found to experience low burden, while 11% experienced high
burden. On logistic regression, females were found to be four times
more likely to experience high burden, while Thirty-five (35%)
percent of caregivers had a GHQ score of > 3, signifying
psychological distress and psychological distress was found to be
significantly associated with burden.
CONCLUSION: Many Nigerian caregivers of patients with Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus experience burden and psychological distress
associated with caregiving, especially female caregivers and those
taking care of those taking care of patients with complications. It is
therefore important for clinicians to recognize burdened caregivers
and intervene appropriately in order to improve the quality of care
of these patients
Description
Keywords
KEYWORDS: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, caregiver burden, psychological distress.
Citation
Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences 29;6