[Family caregivers of young patients suffering from chronic neurological diseases during the transition from neuropediatrics to adult neurology: An observational study of the burden felt by the primary family caregiver.]

Introduction / Context: The transition of young patients from pediatric to adult departments is a critical period with high risks of interruption of the care circuits, thus justifying the implementation of transition programs. This period is also difficult for caregivers, more particularly the main family caregiver. This study addresses the impact of this transition upon the family caregivers of young adults suffering from chronic neurological diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the main family caregivers, their profile, and to evaluate their implication and feelings in terms of burden at the time of the transition.

METHODS: A questionnaire, which included a modified version of the Zarit Burden Interview, was sent to the families of young patients who had recently moved to the adult neurology department.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the forty families contacted replied: the main caregiver is usually the mother (86.6%), the mean age is 51.8, 65% had kept their professional occupation, and 21% had quit. The burden scale showed that 65.5% felt little or no burden.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This limited feeling of burden may be explained by the fact that the majority of patients did not have a motor/intellectual disability. The burden scale we used was originally created for caregivers of elderly patients (often their children), and may not be suitable for assessing children's parents. More specific scales should be considered.