EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND BURDEN ON INFORMAL CAREGIVERS OF STROKE SURVIVORS IN JALGAON DISTRICT

Abstract

Aim: To assess quality of life and burden of caregivers of stroke survivors. Background: Disability due to stroke lead to deterioration of quality of life not only patient but also of their caregivers. Identifying the level of burden and quality of life of patient’s caregivers will allow us to improve rehabilitation intervention for patients as well as caregivers. Method: It is a cross sectional study including 82 caregivers of patients with hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Data were collected by demographic proforma, WHOQOL- BREF for assessing quality of life of caregivers, Zarit burden interview (zbi-12) for burden, Modified Rankin scale for assessing level of disability of patients. Result: 82 caregivers were evaluated. Caregivers of stroke survivors had mean age 34.92± 8.94. The average level of disability of patient is 3.59±0.85. The mean score for quality of life domains were 51.76±11.03, 46.89±12.08 32.08±16.46 46.08±12.81 for physical,psychological,social and environmental domains respectively. The mean score of level of burden on caregivers was 22.84±4.23.Stroke caregivers of stroke survivors were under high level of burden and their quality of life also reduced. There was significant negative correlation found between quality of life and level of burden of caregivers. Conclusion: Informal caregiver of stroke survivors had high level of burden and low quality of life. Caregiver’s burden and their quality of life should be given adequate attention during interventional therapy. Keywords: Burden, informal caregivers, quality of life, stroke survivors