The effects of nursing interventions on the level of anxiety and care burden of the caregivers of bedridden patients

• Published in: Nigerian journal of clinical practice Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 253 - 259
• Main Authors: Bayrak, B, Ozkan, C, Demirbag, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.03.2023; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Anxiety; Bedridden Persons; Care and treatment; Caregiver Burden; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Demographic aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Methods; Nursing care; Psychological aspects; Surveys; Turkey; care burden; nurse; Anxiety level; caregiver; bedridden
• ISSN: 1119-3077; 2229-7731
• DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_1352_21

Background: Taking care of bedridden patients at home is a very difficult task for caregivers. In this care process, caregivers can be supported with the interventions given by the nurses at home. Aim: This study mainly aimed to compare the anxiety and care burden levels of caregivers of bedridden patients at home after nursing interventions which a personal care handbook, regular home visits, and telephone counseling. Subject and Methods: To proceed with this study, 51 caregivers have included in this study between January 1 and July 21, 2018. The Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (BIADL) was used to measure levels of independence in patient's activities, State and Trait Anxiety Scale (SAI and TAI) was used to measure the anxiety levels, and Burden Interview (BI) care burden problems of caregivers who participated in the study. Also, Sociodemographic Characteristics Form was used for demographic data of patients and caregivers. Results: The analysis of the responses showed the proportions of the caregivers who had lower SAI- TAI and BI scores after taking nursing intervention at home. The state anxiety level of caregivers (pre-test: Mean; 54.06+-7.97; post-test: Mean; 38.43+-6.41) and the trait anxiety level of the caregivers (pre-test: Mean; 51.45+-5.94; post-test: Mean; 41.59+-7.05) and the burden level of caregivers (pre-test: Mean; 75.75+-11.41; post-test: Mean; 57.69+-13.39) was determined. The differences between the pre and post-test mean scores of SAI, TAI, and BI were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study highlights that the burden and anxiety levels of the caregivers had lower post-test levels than the pre-test levels.