title: Burden of Chinese stroke family caregivers: the Hong Kong experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with family caregivers' burden in Chinese patients with stroke in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stroke Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=123) from a stroke clinic and their family caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Predictive factors of family caregivers' burden in Chinese stroke patients in Hong Kong. Caregivers' burden was assessed with the Caregiving Burden Scale (CBS). Patients' and caregivers' sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics were recorded. Physical and psychological conditions were measured and rated with the following instruments: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Barthel Index, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Mini-Mental State Examination, Lubben Social Network Scale, Modified Life Event Scale (MLES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a single question about fatigue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the univariate analysis, the CBS score had significant correlations with certain characteristics of caregivers (sex, GDS, HADS, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and MLES) and those of patients' (sex, age, education, GDS). Regression analysis revealed that caregivers' GDS and patients' education were the independent correlates of the CBS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of depressive symptoms in Chinese stroke caregivers and patients' education are independent factors associated with the caregivers' burden. Further studies evaluating interventions on caregivers' burden should include the assessment and management of mood disorders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk
authors: Wai-Kwong
authors: WK
authors: Tang
authors: Chieh G
authors: CG
authors: Lau
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Mok
authors: Gabor S
authors: GS
authors: Ungvari
authors: Ka-Sing
authors: KS
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors