Badawoud AM, AlQadheeb YK, AlZahrani SS, AlGhamdi RA, Alanazi EA, AlFozan SM, AlJafer NS, Asiri IM, Alotaibi FM. The Level of Burden among Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease in Saudi Arabia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023;
20:2864. [PMID:
36833560 PMCID:
PMC9957410 DOI:
10.3390/ijerph20042864]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Caregiver burden is a serious global issue associated with the growing number of older adult patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD patients become more dependent on their caregivers and require assistance with basic daily life activities. This study aims to measure the caregiver burden of informal caregivers of AD patients and to determine their characteristics. In addition, it intends to understand caregiver coping techniques and assess their medication knowledge.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study including 148 informal caregivers mainly recruited by the Saudi Alzheimer's Disease Association (SADA). A four-part study questionnaire was used for data collection in the Arabic Language and included the following: socio-demographic characteristics of AD patients and their caregivers, the 12-item version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and adapted questions on coping techniques and medication knowledge.
RESULTS
A total of 148 caregivers (62% were female) participated in this study, and 79.06% were between 30 and 60 years old. The ZBI average score was 27, indicating a moderate to high burden. Caregivers reported their need for services to improve their quality of life. The medication knowledge was insufficient in most aspects except that more than half were aware of medications' side effects.
CONCLUSION
Our study revealed that the average burden among informal caregivers of AD patients was moderate-high.
Collapse