Qualitative study of care burden of caregivers who take care of patients with spinal cord injury / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the real situation of the burden of the caregivers who take care of patients with spinal cord injury.Methods Using phenomenological research methods of qualitative study,information of 15 family caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury were collected through semi-structured interviews in Jiangxi province,and data were analyzed with Colaizzi 7-step analysis method.Results Four themes were summarizedweak social support system,heavy economic burden,insufficient care ability,mental and physical exhaustion; mental and physical exhaustion concluded three sub-themesburnout,lifestyle changes,sad/helplessness.Conclusions Care burden of caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury includes four aspectssocial,physical,psychological,and less caring capacity.Care workers should be concerned about the health status of the caregivers,give targeted care intervention,so that caregivers can be adapted to the caregivers' role,maintain and promote a high level of health of the patients and their families.