A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE BURDEN AMONG CARE GIVERS OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC PHYSICAL ILLNESS AND PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS ATTENDING OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENTS OF SELECTED HOSPITAL, KOLKATA

Author Name: Chandana Debnath

Volume/Issue: 03/01

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/07.2022-31489912/UIJIR

Affiliation:

SISTER TUTOR, NTS, NRSMCH, Kolkata, India

ABSTRACT

Family members play the most important role in giving the care to the patients with psychiatric illness & chronic physical illness at home. During giving care most of the caregivers feel various type of burden. Sometimes they suffer from various psychiatric and neurological symptoms. In India there are limited number of studies in the field of burden whereas it has been reported extensively in studies done abroad. Even among western studies, very few studies have compared the burden status between family caregivers of persons having chronic mental illness and a chronic physical illness. Of late the trend towards caring for chronically ill patients by family members at home is a common phenomenon because of the high costs of institutional care, dissatisfaction with the lack of personalized care in long term settings and the institution’s rejection of some clients as unsuitable due to the nature of their illness or the behaviours that result from the illnesses. Quantitative survey approach and comparative descriptive research design was adopted. 94 samples ( Arthritis) and 116 samples (schizophrenia) were selected through non probability purposive sampling technique. Demographic data were collected by using valid, reliable structured interview schedule and modified Zarit Burden Scale used for burden assessment. The finding of the study revealed that 52% caregivers of chronic physical illness & 69% caregivers of psychiatric illness told that they feel moderate to severe burden during giving care but only 22% caregivers of psychiatric illness told that they feel severe burden during giving care. Caregivers of psychiatric illness felt more burden than caregivers of chronic physical illness. The result of “t” test is 6.12 which is higher than table value at df 208 at 0.05 level of significance. Significant association present between burden and selected demographic variables such as income, occupation, duration of illness. Assessment of burden of caregivers of psychiatric illness & chronic physical illness is an essential task of mental health professional. Therefore periodic a awareness programme in community on coping ability with various situation to improve the quality of life of both patients and caregivers

Key words: Burden, Caregivers, chronic physical illness, psychiatric illness. Citation : Mrs. Chandana Debnath “A comparative study to assess the burden among care givers of patients suffering from chronic physical illness and psychiatric illness attending outpatient departments of selected hospital, Kolkata.”