Stress levels amongst caregivers of patients with osteoporotic hip fractures - a prospective cohort study
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
;
: 38-42, 2010.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-253635
ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>We evaluated if there was significant stress in caregivers of elderly patients with osteoporotic hip fractures and determine any contributory factors.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A prospective cohort study was performed from June 2005 to June 2006 in a single tertiary hospital. Patients admitted during this period and their primary caregivers were interviewed on admission and at 6 months. Information on patient's demographics, comorbidities, functional and mental status, placement post-discharge and financial strain were noted. Caregiver stress was measured using the caregiver strain index (CSI). Relationships between key variables were analysed to derive possible correlations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study comprised caregivers of 76 patients with a mean age of 77 years (range, 50 to 95; SD, 11). Within 1 week of admission, 45 of the 76 caregivers (59.2%) were significantly stressed based on the CSI while at 6 months, 30 of the caregivers (50%) were significantly stressed. The mean CSI within 1 week of admission and at 6 months post-admission was 7.18 and 6.25 respectively (P = 0.042). The most significant contributory factor to stress was financial strain (P = 0.01) attributable to medical bills, rehabilitation costs and transport expenses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a significant amount of stress that is experienced by caregivers of elderly patients with hip fractures which commences from admission of the patient and it remains high at 6-months post-fracture. Financial strain has been found to be the only significant cause on both univariate and multivariate analysis. Adequate resources should be available to caregivers of patients with osteoporotic hip fractures.</p>
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Osteoporosis
/
Psychology
/
Rehabilitation
/
Stress, Psychological
/
Prospective Studies
/
Caregivers
/
Cost of Illness
/
Economics
/
Hip Fractures
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Health economic evaluation
/
Observational study
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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