BURDEN AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction:

Burden of Chronic kidney disease is on the rise and affects almost all aspects of life of patients and caregivers. Globally, CKD has a prevalence of between 11 to 13.4% in the general population, which makes it one of the most common worldwide diseases. Hemodialysis is the most commonly employed renal replacement therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease. Even though there is an improvement in the quality of life of a CKD patient on hemodialysis, it is a stressful process and involves minor to serious adverse events like vascular access failure, blood pressure abnormalities, dialysis circuit and blood line clotting.

Caring an individual with chronic kidney disease may cause an additional stress for family members in the form of physical and psychological distress, limitations in personal and social activities, loss of freedom, financial limitations affecting level of burden among caregivers. Care giver burden is a common response to problem and challenges associated with care giving.

Methods:

AIM

To study the level of burden among caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

STUDY DESIGN : Descriptive cross sectional study among 100 caregivers of haemodialysis patients.

Care givers of patients undergoing hemodialysis for atleast 3 months are included in the study after taking consent and following variables were assessed.

Socio-demographic variables like age, gender, relationship to the patient, income and duration of illness were noted.

Level of burden was evaluated using Zaritt burden questionnaire composed Likert type 22 items.

Total 1-12 (maximum score = 48) _________

Total 13-21 (maximum score = 36) _________

Score >22 (maximum score = 4)

Total Score (88)

Results:

Conclusions:

1. In our study moderate to severe burden is observed in female caregivers. 

2. Longer the duration of illness,more is the caregiver burden. 

3. Attention should be paid to needs of caregivers to  provide adequate social,economic, physical and psychological support.

I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.

I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.