Assessment of Type II Diabetes Patients’ Caregivers’ Burnout Level: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus type II (T2D) is a chronic condition that requires significant change in the family behavior and is associated with psychosocial conflicts for both patients and their family environment. The aim of this study is to assess burnout among relatives caring for patients with T2D.

Methods

This cross-sectional study with random sampling was conducted on 501 caregivers of patients with T2D between April and September 2021 at Prince Mansour armed forces hospital in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Data collection tool was a modified version of the caregiver stress self-assessment questionnaire. Data analysis was then carried out using t-test and chi-square test (SPSS v20).

Results

The mean patient age was 64.4+12.0 years, female predominant with longstanding T2D. Metformin was the most prescribed T2D medication. The caregivers’ mean age was 34.9+12.4 years, male predominant, and around 45% of them report low level of education and income; 63.9% of the caregivers report little to no stress. Compared with caregivers with mild/moderate stress and moderate/severe stress, caregivers with little to no stress were more likely to be younger in age (P <0.001), male (P = 0.464), single (P = 0.035), patient’s offspring (P = 0.490), caring for T2D patients with younger age (P = 0.058) and shorter T2D duration (P = 0.074), patients who were less likely to use a wheelchair (P = 0.008), patients who were less likely to be prescribed a complex insulin regimen and with better glycemic control parameters (both P >0.05), and patients with higher HDL level (P = 0.037).

Conclusion

There were no correlations between the caregivers’ levels of stress and the T2D patients’ HbA1c levels. There was a significant positive correlation between a caregiver’s stress score and the caregiver’s age. Future studies are needed to assess other caregivers’ parameters and their relation to metabolic control of T2D patients.

Keywords:

• diabetes
• burnout
• caregiver

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Taif University Research Support Project Number (TURSP-2020/37), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.