Subjective burden in young and older African-American caregivers of patients with end stage renal disease awaiting transplant.

The purposes of this study were to identify the level of subjective burden reported by African American caregivers of patients diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD) awaiting transplantation and identify whether subjective burden, personal strain, and role strain varied by caregiver age. An exploratory descriptive survey design was used. The convenience sample consisted of 78 African American family caregivers. Subjects were obtained from a University transplant clinic in the Mid-South. Caregivers completed the 22-item self-administered Burden Interview (BI) and a demographic data form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests of group differences. Most caregivers, reported little to none or mild to moderate burden. Results also indicated that there was no significant difference in the level of overall burden, personal strain, and role strain reported by young and older caregivers. Additional findings revealed that burden was least in the caregivers of patients who independently performed activities of daily living (ADL) and greatest among the caregivers of patients assisted by someone other than the caregiver with ADL. Findings from this study may help nurses to assist caregivers to identify their level of burden early in the caregiving process. Implementation of early interventions may prevent negative psychological and physical outcomes in these caregivers.