Repercussions of Caregiving on Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is one of the most common causes of disability. Stroke survivors may have a wide variety of sensorimotor, cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral dysfunctions. The majority of long-term care for stroke survivors in residential settings is provided by informal caregivers, such as family members. This study was conducted to assess the burden of caregiving on caregivers of stroke survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in a tertiary care institute in Western India. Patients were evaluated for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Caregiver strain among caregivers was assessed using the Modified Caregiver Strain Index Questionnaire (MCSI). The Katz index was used to assess activities of daily living.

RESULTS: The inclusion and exclusion criteria were fulfilled by 125 primary caregivers of stroke patients. Among stroke survivors, the majority were male (57.6%), and caregivers were wives of stroke survivors (28.8%). There was a significant statistical difference in the median of the modified caregiver strain index when the stroke survivor was male (p=0.034), fully dependent (p<0.001), and had a hemorrhagic stroke (p<0.001). There was no significant statistical difference in the median of the MCSI based on the sex of caregivers (p=0.928). There was a positive correlation between the age of the patient and MCSI (r=0.373, p<0.001). No correlation was found between the MCSI and age of caregivers (r=-0.108, p=0.230) and duration of stroke (r=-0.089, p=0.321).

CONCLUSION: The findings in our study provide evidence that caregivers of stroke survivors experience significant levels of strain. It is desirable to recognize caregiver strain during the rehabilitation of stroke survivors and manage it appropriately.