Assessment of Maintenance Burden in The Caregivers of The Patients Receiving Home Health Care Services

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the degree of care burden in the caregivers of the patients receiving care from Home Health Care service and to determine from which variables and how the care burden was affected. Methods: Observational, prospective and cross-sectional study included patients receiving 80 home care services and caregivers of these patients. In order to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients and caregivers, a data collecting form and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) were used to assess the care burden of caregivers. Results: The ZBI average of caregivers was 38.4; 43.8% of them had a high score of ZBI and 2.5% of them were very high. 74.3% of those with a high maintenance burden stated that they care because there is no one else to care for. There was a significant relationship between caregiver burden levels of caregivers and burn out, feeling of weakness-helplessness, and communication difficulties with the patient (p = 0.001). All those with very high maintenance loads were using anti-depressants and felt exhausted. There was a significant relationship between caregivers' depression and sleeping conditions and sleep loadings with sleep quality (p <0,05). Conclusion: The majority of caregivers have a high level of caregiving burden and it has been determined that they feel burn out and weakness-helplessness, as well as the need for education-counseling and asistance related to care.