Comparing perceived burden for Korean and American informal caregivers of stroke survivors.
Little is known about the burden of cross-cultural care for stroke patients. This article compares the perceived burden for caregivers of stroke survivors in Korea and the United States. A brief interview was conducted to determine specific problem areas for caregivers. Caregiver burden (using the Sense of Competence Questionnaire) and social support (using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory) also were measured. The overall-sense-of-burden-from-caregiving score was significantly higher in the Korean cohort than in the American cohort, as was the scale regarding satisfaction with the relationship with the recipient of care. The primary predictors of overall burden for the combined sample were caregiver and patient depression and insufficient social support. Lower perceived social support among Korean caregivers was strongly related to caregiver depression, while it was more strongly related to increased hours of caregiving in the American sample. These findings can help rehabilitation nurses plan supportive interventions that incorporate cultural values for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Choi-Kwon
Smi
S
College of Nursinig & Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Mitchell
Pamela H
PH
Veith
Richard
R
Teri
Linda
L
Buzaitis
Ann
A
Cain
Kevin C
KC
Becker
Kyra J
KJ
Tirschwell
David
D
Fruin
Michael
M
Choi
Jimi
J
Kim
Jong S
JS
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014861:Washington