DOI: 10.5176/2315-4330_WNC16.123
Authors: Ms. Agnes Monica .V
Abstract:
Background: A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain is epilepsy. It tends to arise suddenly, as it has highly unpredictable character and high psychological impact. Epilepsy occurring in a public place can lead to embarrassing and sometimes dangerous situations. It may occur in a workplace or in a social setting, where the patients along with the caregivers experience a lack of understanding and stigma on epilepsy. Objectives: The main objective of the study level of burden among caregivers of patients with epilepsy, explore the coping strategies used by family members of patients with epilepsy and to associate the level of burden between caregivers and selected demographic variables. Methods: Descriptive research design was adopted to achieve the objectives of the study. The study was carried out in the Neuro center clinic in Chennai, India. A total of 40 consecutive pairs of subjects and their principal caregivers were originally enrolled in the study. The samples were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Participants were asked to complete three part questionnaire including demographic data questionnaire, caregivers burden inventory and coping strategies scale among caregivers of patients with epilepsy. The investigator explained the study to the patients and caregivers reassuring them that their privacy would be strictly protected and the questionnaires were administered to the participants. A self-introduction of the invigilator was made on the meeting day; the caregivers were firstly invited into a designated interview room for privacy. They were provided with a thorough explanation on the study purposes and its procedure as written in the Family Caregiver Information Sheet. Written consent form was later signed upon participation agreement by the participants. The data was imputed and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Studies (SPSS) version 21.0. Results: Majority (37.5{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}) was under the age group of 21-30 years, (72{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}) female, married (55{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}) and joint family (52.5{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}). Around 95{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} of the subjects were literate and 70{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} of the Subjects from a city background and almost three fourth belonged to middle class family.
Keywords: CAREGIVERS, BURDEN, COPING, EPILEPSY.
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