The Effects of Nursing Interventions on the Level of Anxiety and Care Burden of the Caregivers of Bedridden Patients

Abstract

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.