Disability and its Relationship with Caregiver Burden among Stroke Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a chronic condition which leads to significant disability. In the developing countries like India such chronic conditions with disability are often kept to be treated in communities, which in turn puts significant stress on their caregivers ultimately leading to increase burden of caregiver. This increase in caregiver burden may further hamper the prognosis and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Objective: Identifying and comparing the relation between the various level of disability and caregiver burden. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Method: 65 persons with stroke and their caregivers meeting the inclusive criteria’s were enrolled. Results: Pearson correlation was achieved between Modified Rankin Scale and Caregiver Burden Scale proving increase in caregiver burden with increase patient disability with 0.348 (P <0.01), negative Pearson correlation between Modified Barthel Index and Caregiver Burden Scale proves decrease in independence level of patient increases caregiver burden with -0.263(P<0.05). Conclusion: Caregiver burden of stroke survivor is correlated with disability of stroke patient. So education to caregiver may reduce burden which will may a key to improve rehabilitation.