title: Caregiver burden among primary caregivers of patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: a cross sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify caregiver burden and influencing factors on the burden in primary caregivers of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation patients within 2-12 months following transplant, indicating early recovery period after discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out at hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outpatient units of three university hospitals in Turkey. A total of 55 patient and caregiver dyads were recruited and interviewed. The data were collected using questionnaires developed by the researchers and caregiver burden was measured with the Zarit Burden Interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of Zarit Burden Interview was 28.41 (SD = 13.90). Patients' symptoms including nausea and self depreciation feeling were related to greater caregiver burden. Self-depreciation was referred to feeling undervalued. The mean score of the tool was significantly higher in caregivers who have not been educated beyond primary school and also caregivers who had lower income. Caregivers who supported their patients to fulfill physical needs and who did not receive help for meeting patients' psychological needs had statistically more elevated levels of burden. Moreover, the extent of care giving activities undertaken was positively correlated with caregiver burden scores. While positive impact of the care giving process on family relations decreased caregiver burden; negative effect increased the burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that caregiver burden of primary caregivers caring for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation patients varies by education, income status, and the extent of care giving activities undertaken. Changes in family ties and relations due to care giving effected caregiver burden.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, 06000 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: akglnur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akgul
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, 06000 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Caregiver; Caregiver burden; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Nursing