Abstract
Background: Spatial neglect prolongs stroke survivors’ recovery to independence. However, little is known about the impact of spatial neglect on caregivers of stroke survivors: To explore the factors associated with burden and stress among informal caregivers of stroke survivors with spatial neglect. Methods: Following the previous study of 108 stroke survivors, we reached 24 stroke survivors’ caregivers, and 20 caregivers (age: M±SD=56.9±12.7 years; 12 females) completed the study. 10 survivors had symptoms of spatial neglect, and 10 did not (i.e., SN+ or SN-, respectively) at the time when discharged from inpatient ehabilitation, which was 9.3±6.2 months before the present study. Via a semi structured telephone interview, we assessed caregivers’ burden and stress qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: No difference was observed across caregiver groups in cognitive function, depressive mood, or community mobility. In comparison, caregivers of the SN+ group allocated more time to care, controlling for survivors’ disability (adjusted effective size d = 1.80). Their self-perceived burden and stress were more severe than the other group (adjusted d =.99). Qualitative analysis indicated caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to describe economic stressors and undesirable changes in career and vacation planning. While 80% of participants preferred their care recipients to receive additional motor or mobility therapy, caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to suggest additional therapy for cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that spatial neglect may heighten caregivers’ burden and stress levels. Future studies with a large sample size are required.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 24-33 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Caregiver stress
- Caregiving
- Dependency burden
- Spatial neglect
- Stroke
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Community and Home Care
- Clinical Neurology
Cite this
Informal caregivers’ burden and stress in caring for stroke survivors with spatial neglect : An exploratory mixed-method study. / Chen, Peii; Fyffe, Denise C.; Hreha, Kimberly.
In: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.01.2017, p. 24-33.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Informal caregivers’ burden and stress in caring for stroke survivors with spatial neglect
T2 - An exploratory mixed-method study
AU - Chen, Peii
AU - Fyffe, Denise C.
AU - Hreha, Kimberly
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Background: Spatial neglect prolongs stroke survivors’ recovery to independence. However, little is known about the impact of spatial neglect on caregivers of stroke survivors: To explore the factors associated with burden and stress among informal caregivers of stroke survivors with spatial neglect. Methods: Following the previous study of 108 stroke survivors, we reached 24 stroke survivors’ caregivers, and 20 caregivers (age: M±SD=56.9±12.7 years; 12 females) completed the study. 10 survivors had symptoms of spatial neglect, and 10 did not (i.e., SN+ or SN-, respectively) at the time when discharged from inpatient ehabilitation, which was 9.3±6.2 months before the present study. Via a semi structured telephone interview, we assessed caregivers’ burden and stress qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: No difference was observed across caregiver groups in cognitive function, depressive mood, or community mobility. In comparison, caregivers of the SN+ group allocated more time to care, controlling for survivors’ disability (adjusted effective size d = 1.80). Their self-perceived burden and stress were more severe than the other group (adjusted d =.99). Qualitative analysis indicated caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to describe economic stressors and undesirable changes in career and vacation planning. While 80% of participants preferred their care recipients to receive additional motor or mobility therapy, caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to suggest additional therapy for cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that spatial neglect may heighten caregivers’ burden and stress levels. Future studies with a large sample size are required.
AB - Background: Spatial neglect prolongs stroke survivors’ recovery to independence. However, little is known about the impact of spatial neglect on caregivers of stroke survivors: To explore the factors associated with burden and stress among informal caregivers of stroke survivors with spatial neglect. Methods: Following the previous study of 108 stroke survivors, we reached 24 stroke survivors’ caregivers, and 20 caregivers (age: M±SD=56.9±12.7 years; 12 females) completed the study. 10 survivors had symptoms of spatial neglect, and 10 did not (i.e., SN+ or SN-, respectively) at the time when discharged from inpatient ehabilitation, which was 9.3±6.2 months before the present study. Via a semi structured telephone interview, we assessed caregivers’ burden and stress qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: No difference was observed across caregiver groups in cognitive function, depressive mood, or community mobility. In comparison, caregivers of the SN+ group allocated more time to care, controlling for survivors’ disability (adjusted effective size d = 1.80). Their self-perceived burden and stress were more severe than the other group (adjusted d =.99). Qualitative analysis indicated caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to describe economic stressors and undesirable changes in career and vacation planning. While 80% of participants preferred their care recipients to receive additional motor or mobility therapy, caregivers of the SN+ group were more likely to suggest additional therapy for cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that spatial neglect may heighten caregivers’ burden and stress levels. Future studies with a large sample size are required.
KW - Caregiver stress
KW - Caregiving
KW - Dependency burden
KW - Spatial neglect
KW - Stroke
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034615043&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85034615043&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10749357.2016.1186373
DO - 10.1080/10749357.2016.1186373
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 24
EP - 33
JO - Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation
JF - Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation
SN - 1074-9357
IS - 1
ER -