The Relationship Between Care Burden and Coping Strategies in Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients in Kermanshah, Iran.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between care burden and coping strategies in caregivers of hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to December 2018 in Kermanshah, Iran. A total of 130 caregivers of patients admitted to the hemodialysis wards of Imam Reza and Imam Khomeini hospitals of Kermanshah, Iran were selected via convenience sampling. Data-collection tools included a demographic information form, caregiver-burden inventory, and coping inventory for stressful situations. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests.

RESULTS

The mean age of the caregivers was 35.8±13.7 years, and 71 (54.6%) were patients' children. The mean caregiver-burden score was 58.5±20.5 out of 96. Mean scores of time-dependent, evolutionary, physical, social, and emotion-dependent care burdens were 17.5±5.3, 12.2±6.3, 9.1±4.7, 8.2±4.0, and 11.4±5.1, respectively. Mean scores of problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance-oriented coping strategies were 46.0±80.8, 43.1±9.0, and 48.9±9.5, respectively. Among the strategies, only the avoidance-oriented one had a significant positive relationship with total care burden and all its subscales.

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of hemodialysis patients experienced a relatively high care burden. However, they did not use appropriate coping strategies; therefore, they should be trained to select an effective coping strategy.