Oshodi Y O, Adeyemi J D, Aina O F, Suleiman T F, Erinfolami A R, Umeh C
Department of Psychiatry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg). 2012 Mar;15(2):99-105. doi: 10.4314/ajpsy.v15i2.13.
Worldwide, research into experiences of care givers are gradually increasing and their central role in community care is being acknowledged. Caregivers experience a multidimensional range of problems, often associated with their caregiving role. It becomes important to identify these areas of burden and provide necessary support. The study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and experience of burden of care among the caregivers of mentally ill patients.
A cross sectional descriptive study. Eligible consecutive subjects were recruited to the study over a 6 month period. Fifty three caregiver relatives of patients diagnosed with a psychiatric illness were assessed using the General Health questionnaire version 12, an Adapted Burden of Care (BOC) Schedule and a Sociodemographic questionnaire.
The caregivers were 51% male and 49% female. Most were above 35years in age (66.1%). They were either parents (38.8%), siblings (18.4%), uncle/aunt (14.3%), first cousin (12.2%) or other extended relatives (16.3%). Almost half of the relatives had psychological distress (43.8%) and most of which (63%) had more burden. The mean score on the BOC among the caregivers was 41 (±18.68SD), with scores ranging from 0.00-89.00, and 45.3% of relatives experiencing more than average burden of care.
There is a significant level of burden and psychological distress experienced by caregivers in this study location. It is recommended that effectively planned interventions are targeted at alleviating this burden and at improving the ability of caregivers to cope, within the Nigerian mental health service delivery system.
在全球范围内，对护理人员经历的研究逐渐增多，他们在社区护理中的核心作用也得到认可。护理人员面临多方面的问题，这些问题往往与他们的护理角色相关。识别这些负担领域并提供必要支持变得很重要。该研究旨在确定精神病患者护理人员中心理困扰的患病率以及护理负担经历。
一项横断面描述性研究。在6个月期间连续招募符合条件的受试者。使用12版一般健康问卷、一份改编的护理负担（BOC）量表和一份社会人口学问卷对53名被诊断患有精神疾病患者的护理亲属进行评估。
护理人员中男性占51%，女性占49%。大多数年龄在35岁以上（66.1%）。他们要么是父母（38.8%）、兄弟姐妹（18.4%）、叔伯/阿姨（14.3%）、表亲（12.2%），要么是其他远亲（16.3%）。几乎一半的亲属有心理困扰（43.8%），其中大多数（63%）负担更重。护理人员的BOC平均得分是41（±18.68标准差），得分范围为0.00 - 89.00，45.3%的亲属经历了高于平均水平的护理负担。
在本研究地点，护理人员经历了显著程度的负担和心理困扰。建议在尼日利亚的精神卫生服务提供系统内，针对减轻这种负担并提高护理人员的应对能力，制定有效的干预措施。
