Abstract

This study was designed and undertaken to identify the degree of burden of family caregivers for patients who had a stroke as the burden is related to the ADL of the patients. The data were collected from October 3rd, 1997 to March 20th, 1998. The subjects in this study were 126 caregivers as family members and 126 patients with strokes who were hospitalized in two oriental medicine hospitals and four general hospitals located in Taegue and Pusan City. The questionnaires consisted of questions regarding burden(25 items) of caregivers and ADL (25 items) of patients with strokes. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean, t-test and ANOV A done with the SPSS program. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The score for family caregiver's burden was higher than the middle score. 2. The family caregivers' age had statistically significant differences in the degree of burden. 3. The age and sex of patients affected the burden of caregivers significantly. That is, caregivers felt more of a burden when caring for the patient group in their sixties than in any other age group and female patients created more of a burden than male patients. 4. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of caregiver burden according to the level of patient ADL.