A Correlative Study to Assess the Burden and Coping Strategies among Caregivers of Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) Patients who are Visiting the Rehabilitation Departments of Selected Hospitals of Mangalore Taluk with a View to Provide an Information Booklet

Background: Diseases take a toll not only on those affected, but also on the ones around them. Providing care for a CVA patient can be a very stressful situation to the caregivers. Apart from taking care of their own needs, the caregivers need to spend more time for the patient care. Stroke is a life challenging event and use of coping strategies to manage burden is helpful for the caregivers to improve their health.

Statement of the problem: A Correlative study to assess the burden and coping strategies among caregivers of Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) patients who are visiting the rehabilitation departments of selected hospitals of Mangalore Taluk with a view to provide an information booklet.

Objectives of the study:

The objectives of the study were to:

1. assess the level of burden and coping strategies among caregivers

2. find the correlation between burden and coping strategies

3. find the association between burden and selected demographic variables

4. find the association between coping strategies and selected demographic variables

Method:

Descriptive survey approach, with non experimental descriptive correlational design was adopted in order to assess the burden and coping strategies among caregivers of CVA patients and to identify the correlation between them among caregivers of CVA patients in rehabilitation departments of selected hospitals of Mangalore Taluk. The conceptual framework adopted for the study was based on Roy's Adaptation Model. Content validity of the tool and information booklet was established in consultation with nine experts (seven were from the field of medical surgical nursing speciality, one neuro surgeon and one psychologist). Reliability of the tool was tested by split half method followed by Spearman's Brown Prophecy Formula. Non probability purposive sampling was used to select the subjects for the study. Pilot study was conducted to find out the feasibility of the study. Data collected from the subjects were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The sample size was 100.

Significant findings of the study:

• The findings of the study demonstrated that among 100 caregivers of CVA patients surveyed, many subjects (36%) were in the age group of 31- 40 years, majority of subjects (77%) were female, maximum number of subjects (63%) were married, most of the subjects (48%) were Hindus, maximum number of the subjects (63%) belonged to joint families, about 39% of the subjects had higher secondary schooling, most of the subjects (51%) were home makers, around 32% of the subjects had monthly income of Rs 10,001- 15,000, about 39% were taking care of the patient for 7-12 months, most of caregivers (39%) were others (daughter/ daughter in-law) and about 47% of subjects had a history of stroke in the family.
• The mean percentage of the burden score among caregivers of CVA patients was 53.8%.
• The mean percentage of the coping score among caregivers of CVA patients was 52.1%.
• There was a positive significant correlation between burden and coping strategies among caregivers of CVA patients.
• There was significant association between burden and demographic variable education (χ2 =11.1, table value χ2 =11) and no significant association with other demographic variables. 
• There was no significant association between the coping strategies and demographic variables.

Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that caregivers of CVA patients had moderate level of burden, average level of coping and a positive correlation between burden and coping strategies.