The Burden and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Individuals With Stroke During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study investigated the caregiving burden, quality of life and life satisfaction of caregivers of individuals with stroke during the pandemic period. A descriptive a study was performed with a sample of caregivers (n = 80) of inpatient individuals with stroke in Kayseri, Turkey. The Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale, Short Form Health Survey-36, and Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as well as some open-ended questions. Using descriptive analysis and correlations, results showed that caregiving burden of the participants was correlated to quality of life and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Specific types of burden include: stress, isolation, financial issues, disruption of therapy, patient-caregiver relationship, and kinship relations. These findings provide important information about the increased burden of caregivers during the pandemic. This study offers information to design a framework of interventions to reduce the physical, social, and psychological effects on caregivers in similar conditions.

Keywords:

• Caregiving burden
• COVID-19
• life satisfaction
• quality of life
• stroke

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.