Subjective and objective caregiver burden in Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor disabilities and increasing dependence on others for daily life activities with consequent impact on patients' and caregivers' quality of life. The aim of this study was to elucidate the burden on primary caregivers of patients with PD, and identify related factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study. Seventy-six primary caregivers of PD patients in a neurology outpatient clinic, Seoul, Korea completed structured questionnaires, of which 68 were analyzed. The structured self-report questionnaire included (1) demographic information on the caregivers, (2) information regarding the disease characteristics of the patients, and (3) the subjective and objective caregiver burdens as assessed on Montgomery, Gonyea, & Hooyman's scale.


RESULTS
The mean age of the caregivers was 54.56 years, and spouses represented the largest proportion(47.0%). Caregivers of PD patients experienced high levels of burden (mean scores on the subjective and objective burdens were 45.22 and 34.90, respectively), which were comparable to the caregiver burdens in stroke, and higher than the caregiver burdens in general chronic disease. Older caregivers and spousal caregivers experienced significantly higher burdens (p=.004 and p=.019, respectively). A greater motor disability and higher modified Hoehn and Yahr grade were related to higher caregiver burden (p=.001 and p=.018, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Caring for PD patients is associated with a high level of caregiver burden. Therefore, healthcare professionals should identify the burden of caregivers who look after PD patients and develop comprehensive management strategies both for patients and their caregivers.
Kim
Keum Soon
KS
The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Bog Ja
BJ
Kim
Kyung Hee
KH
Choe
Myoung-Ae
MA
Yi
Myungsun
M
Hah
Yang-Sook
YS
Chung
Sun Ju
SJ
Kwon
So-Hi
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease; D011788:Quality of Life