Investigation of Care Burden and Burnout Levels of Elderly Care Providers Receiving Home Health Services

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the care burden and burnout status of individuals caring for the elderly receiving home health care services and to reveal the needs to be addressed at the point of intervention for the caregiver for the identified situation.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between January 1 and April 1, 2022 with individuals who had been providing care to patients registered in the Home Health Services unit of XXXXXX University Training and Research Hospital for at least 1 month, who were not paid for their caregiving work, and who agreed to participate in the study.

Results: The burnout scale short form score of caregivers was 2.8±1.3 in women and 2.0±1.1 in men. This difference between both genders was statistically significant. (p<0.047) As the dependency level of the care recipients increased, the time-dependency burden subscale scores of the caregivers increased and this result was statistically significant. (p<0.001) In this study, a significant negative correlation was found between the caregivers burden inventory time-dependency burden subscale score of caregivers and the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale of care recipients. (p<0.001) A statistically significant strong positive correlation was found between the total Caregivers Burden Inventory (CBI) score of caregivers and the burnout scale short form score. (p<0.001)

Conclusions: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total CBI score and the Burnout Scale-Short Form score of caregivers. Burnout may lead to negative outcomes such as low self-esteem, low motivation and low performance in caregivers.