Diyaliz hastalarının bakıcılarında bakım yükü ve depresyon

Objective: To assess perceived burden, depression and related factors in caregivers of hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. Methods: Caregivers of 41 hemodialysis, 21 peritoneal dialysis patients whom followed-up at inpatient and outpatient dialysis units of nephrology department were included into study. A ques¬tionnaire to assess demographic characteristics of caregivers and patients, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were administered to the caregivers. Results: The 62.9% of caregivers were women, 37.1% were men and mean age was 45.9±15.1 years. While no significant relation was present between the type of dialysis and perceived burden of caregivers (p=0.297), the possibility of development of depression in caregivers of peritoneal dialysis patients was 4.5 (p=0.001, 95%CI=1.39-14.71) fold higher than the caregivers of hemodialysis patients (p=0.012). Mild-moderate burden was significantly higher in caregivers of patients with primary school education (p=0.039). The frequency of burden increased, as the age of the caregiver increased also with being a relative other than sibling and being unemployed (p=0.038, p=0.048 and p=0.038, respec¬tively). Significant positive association was observed between depression and care burden (p<0.001). Conclusions: There was a significant positive correlation between depression and care burden. Frequency of depression increased as the burden increased or depression increased care burden.