[Activities of daily living of the elderly with a chronic disease and burden on family care-givers].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to help families decrease and alleviate the burden on family care-givers taking care of elderly patients.


METHODS
Data was collected by a questionnaire from 100 family members who were registered in the department of home health care nursing at 4 hospitals of H University Medical Center from September 20 to October 25, 2005. The collected data was analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, t-test and One-Way ANOVA with the Duncan's test, and Stepwise multiple regression.


RESULTS
The average burden on family care-givers of elderly patients with chronic diseases was 3.31. The social burden was the highest(M=3.68), the lowest was the emotional burden (M=2.95). In ADL of elderly patients with chronic diseases, all 10 questions showed an average point above 2.50. The dependency level of going up and down the stairs was the highest (M=2.88).


CONCLUSIONS
This research is necessary for the application of a plan in the social support system in order to reduce the burden on family care-givers who are taking care of elderly patients with a chronic disease.
Bang
Su Hyang
SH
Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul 150-719, Korea. cerenade2@hanmail.net
Jang
Hee Jeong
HJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001822:Body Burden; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires