TY - JOUR
T1 - Burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State
AU - Giovannetti, A. M.
AU - Leonardi, M.
AU - Pagani, M.
AU - Sattin, D.
AU - Raggi, A.
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Objectives: To assess differences in the burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). Materials and methods: The Family Strain Questionnaire, Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences, Caregiver Needs Assessment, Short Form-12, Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Differences in psychological condition between caregivers of VS and MCS patients, with different disease duration and hosting facility were assessed with Kruskall-Wallis test and factors associated with the overall levels of burden with UNIANOVA. Results: In total, 487 participants were enrolled. Daily hours of care-giving is significantly associated with the overall level of burden perceived by caregivers (F = 4.099; P = 0.018). Strain, needs and frequency of use of coping strategies are substantially similar regardless of the patient's condition and distance from the acute event. Caregivers of post-acute patients reported low scores in mental health (median = 33.8; IQR = 23.1-47.6) and higher state of anxiety (median = 54; IQR = 45-62), whereas caregivers of long-term patients expressed more needs in social involvement (median = 19; IQR = 15-22). Conclusions: Burden and distress were high for all caregivers of VS and MCS patients. As care-giving is a long-term commitment process, support to the caregiver should be guaranteed throughout the duration of the relative's disease despite the patient's diagnosis or place where the patient is hosted.
AB - Objectives: To assess differences in the burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). Materials and methods: The Family Strain Questionnaire, Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences, Caregiver Needs Assessment, Short Form-12, Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Differences in psychological condition between caregivers of VS and MCS patients, with different disease duration and hosting facility were assessed with Kruskall-Wallis test and factors associated with the overall levels of burden with UNIANOVA. Results: In total, 487 participants were enrolled. Daily hours of care-giving is significantly associated with the overall level of burden perceived by caregivers (F = 4.099; P = 0.018). Strain, needs and frequency of use of coping strategies are substantially similar regardless of the patient's condition and distance from the acute event. Caregivers of post-acute patients reported low scores in mental health (median = 33.8; IQR = 23.1-47.6) and higher state of anxiety (median = 54; IQR = 45-62), whereas caregivers of long-term patients expressed more needs in social involvement (median = 19; IQR = 15-22). Conclusions: Burden and distress were high for all caregivers of VS and MCS patients. As care-giving is a long-term commitment process, support to the caregiver should be guaranteed throughout the duration of the relative's disease despite the patient's diagnosis or place where the patient is hosted.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Burden
KW - Caregivers
KW - Depression
KW - Minimally Conscious State
KW - Vegetative State
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01666.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01666.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 22509952
AN - SCOPUS:84870796335
VL - 127
SP - 10
EP - 18
JO - Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
SN - 0001-6314
IS - 1
ER -