Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the status of care burden

and the burnout of the caregivers who take care of the patients in the palliative care centers for various reasons, while under observation of home care

services; and contribute to medicosocial service planning so as to meet the

caregivers needs.

Method: A total of 129 caregivers whose patients treated in palliatif care

centers of public hospitals were enrolled in the study. This is a crosssectional and descriptive study. The data were obtained through filling up

The socio-demographic data sheet, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) using face-to-face interview method.

Results: Of the 129 caregivers, 92 (71.3%) were women, and 54.3% of them

were at the age of 40-64; while 42.6% of them were the children of the

patients. The mean Zarit Burden Interview score (37.71±15.44) and the

mean Maslach Burnout Inventory score of Emotional Exhaustion

(12.16±8.20), and the mean Depersonalization score (4.19±4.25) and the

mean Personal Accomplishment score (19.68±5.43) were also estimated..

We found a positive correlation between the increasing burden of caregivers

with the subgroups of Maslach Burnout Inventory Emotional Exhaustion

(R=0.611; p=0.000) and the Depersonalization (R=0.476; p=0.000). There

was a negative correlation between the increasing burden of caregivers and

their Personal Accomplishment (R=-0.232; p=0.008). As the Zarit Burden

Interview score increased the level of Maslach Burnout Inventory scores

also increased. There were no relation between age, gender, marital

status,education status of caregivers,absence of financial support, working

with another caregiver, the diagnosis of the patients they were caring for

and Zarit Burden Interview and Maslach Burnout Inventory (p>0.05).

Conclusion: When burden of the caregivers increase; their burnout level

also increases. Longer caregiving periods and the presence of a chronic

disease increase burnout levels too. Evaluation of the status of caregivers,

and provision of phychosicial support will be appropriate in reducing the

care burden and burnout perceived by healthcare professionals, and increasing quality of medical care services.