title: Burden of care in primary caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury in Iran: its association with sociodemographic factors.
abstract: METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The burden of care among primary caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) is affected by different factors. We aimed to evaluate the level of burden among caregivers and the association between the caregiver burden and sociodemographic factors of SCI individuals and their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Zarit caregiver burden interview was used to evaluate the level of burden in caregivers through structured face-to-face interviews with 163 individuals with SCI, who were referred to receive outpatient rehabilitation, and their caregivers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of caregivers' burden score was 38.9±15.2 and 11.7% reported no or little burden, 43.6% reported 'mild-to-moderate' burden, 33.1% reported 'moderate-to-severe' burden and 11.7% reported 'severe' burden of care. There was relationship between the level of injury (P=0.010) and occupational status (P=0.041) in SCI individuals and caregiver burden score. There was also a positive relationship between the caregiver burden score and duration of injury (r=0.176, P=0.025), the caregivers' age (r=0.350, P<0.001), and length of time that the current caregiver providing care (r=0.253, P=0.001). There was a negative relationship between the burden and caregiver's educational level (r=-0.235, P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of care among the caregivers of SCI individuals is a multidimensional issue. The sociodemographic characteristics of individuals with SCI and their caregivers can affect the caregiver's burden. Many of these factors can be modified to reduce the burden of care.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khazaeipour
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rezaei-Motlagh
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahmadipour
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azarnia-Ghavam
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirzababaei
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salimi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2504-7588
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salehi-Nejad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors