Stress among the family caregivers of liver transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Family members of liver transplant patients continue caregiving activities for a lengthy period after transplantation.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of stress-related factors on psychological distress and perceived health of family caregivers of liver transplant recipients.


METHODS
Twenty-four caregivers of liver transplant recipients treated at a liver unit serving the northern part of Israel.


METHODS
Pearlin's caregiving stress questionnaire was administered to assess the subscales of patients' symptoms as perceived by caregivers, caregiving activities, perceived overload, relational deprivation, personal gain, and social support; also, a depression questionnaire and a perceived caregivers' health questionnaire were administered to participants.


RESULTS
Caregivers experienced considerable caregiving overload. Women reported performing more caregiving activities, higher perceived overload, and higher level of depression than men. Increasing passage of time since transplantation, higher perceived overload, higher sense of relational deprivation, and lower sense of personal gain were significantly associated with higher level of depression and worse perceived health. Perceived support and level of depression were not significantly associated with perceived health.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregiving stress endures after transplantation. Professional intervention is needed to improve caregivers' quality of life and, consequently, that of transplant recipients as well.
Cohen
Miri
M
Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Katz
Dafna
D
Baruch
Yaacov
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires