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Dialysis treatment is a very long-term process that affects and challenges patients and families as much as the disease itself. Along with dialysis treatment, the caregiver has to go to the dialysis center 3-4 days a week and spend most of the day there, or take responsibility for the treatment in home treatments, apply the treatments, cope with and manage the physical and psychological problems of the patient. It has also been shown in some studies that these obligations affect the caregiver and this situation causes problems such as physical-psychological problems, deterioration of family relations and financial problems in caregivers. The aim of the study is to reveal the burden of caregivers of chronic kidney patients, their level of health perception and self-care, and the problems of caring for chronic patients
The research was carried out in descriptive and relationship-seeking design. The sample size was determined as 262 by taking into account the effect size (p) of 0.2, the alpha error of 0.05 and the power probability of 95% by power analysis.
The data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Zarit Caregiving Burden Scale, Health Perception Scale, Conscious Self-Care Scale, Maslach Burnout Scale.
Caregivers are distributed according to gender as 101 (40.7%) male and 147 (59.3%) female. Caregivers stated their general health status as poor in 15 (6.0%), moderate in 109 (44.0%), good in 112 (45.2%) and very good in 12 (4.8%). The mean "burden of caregiving" of caregivers was 25.653±16.663 (Min=0; Max=84), the mean of "health perception" was 38,790±8,556 (Min=15; Max=57), "mindful self-care" mean 103.976±23.822 (Min=45; Max = 159).
When correlation analyzes are examined; A correlation was found between mindful self-care and caregiving burden at r=-0.226 negative very weak (p=0.000<0.05) level
Regression analysis to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between educational status, presence of health insurance, presence of someone else in the family who needs care and health perception was found to be significant (F=15.570; p=0.000<0.05).
Regression analysis to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between educational status, caregiving burden, finding the work tiring and finding the work tiring, general health status and conscious self-care was found to be significant (F=12.523; p=0.000<0.05).
Healthcare professionals need to focus not only on the health of patients, but also on the health of their relatives and caregivers, which is a key element of home care, because if the caregiver is under a high degree of burden, it is more likely that the needs of the patients will not be met.
Evaluation of the process and effects of caregivers and their perception and maintenance of their own health and self-care will provide data for the planning of initiatives that can be made to improve the well-being and quality of life of both caregivers and their patients throughout this chronic disease journey