Özlem Küçükgüçlü

Effects of Gender on Burden Among Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients

PURPOSE This study was conducted to determine the effects of gender on caregiver burden among caregivers of persons with Alzheimers disease. DESIGN Comparative descriptive study. METHODS Factors affecting the burden of female and male caregivers (age, total duration of caregiving, mean duration of daily caregiving, education, income, employment status, age of the patients cared for, and Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] and Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI] scores) were similar (p > .05). The sample consisted of 120 female and 72 male caregivers of patients with Alzheimers disease. Data were collected from patients by means of the MMSE and demographic variables, and data from the Caregiver Burden Inventory [CBI] and NPI were obtained from caregivers, as well as from face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to describe and analyze data. FINDINGS Female caregivers had significantly higher scores for caregiver burden than their male counterparts (p= .002). Subscale analysis on the CSI revealed that female caregivers had significantly higher scores for caregiver burden than male caregivers on time dependence (p= .040), developmental (p= .002), physical (p= .001), and social burdens (p= .045). No difference was found with respect to emotional burden (p= .718). CONCLUSIONS Results of this study suggest that female caregivers are subjected to a higher level of caregiver burden than male caregivers in Turkey. In subscales, female caregivers experienced more burden than male caregivers in the time dependence, developmental, physical, and social burdens. Emotional burden was similar in both genders. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although caregiver burden has been a much debated issue for many years, it is a relatively new topic in Turkey. In order to provide appropriate care for the patients and familys cultural values and needs, more studies are needed to be conducted on family members giving care to Alzheimers patients. It is thought that the findings of the present study will facilitate cross-cultural comparisons and culture-oriented care planning.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among People With Diabetes in Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate use of complementary and alternative medicines, and factors that affect use of these agents, in individuals with diabetes. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed at the outpatient clinics of four hospitals in Turkey with 396 diabetic individuals between October 2006 and March 2007. In this study, 34.6% of the participants were using complementary and alternative medicine in addition to conventional medicine; 73% of these individuals had not informed their doctors and nurses about their complementary and alternative medicine practice. Nurses, as health care providers, should not ignore complementary and alternative medicine options. Instead, they should try to determine the rate of complementary and alternative medicine use among their patients and understand their effects and the reasons for use of these agents. Nurses should learn more about these medicines and educate their patients.

Examining Factors Affecting Caregiver Burden: A Comparison of Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease:

This study was conducted to compare the caregiver burden with regard to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and to determine the factors affecting the caregiver burden of patients with AD and FTD. A comparative descriptive study design was used. The sample consisted of 90 patients with AD and 44 patients with FTD and their caregivers. Sociodemographic questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) were used. Descriptive statistics, t tests, χ2 test, and multinominal regression were used for analysis. No difference was found with subscales and the total score of the CBI, except time dependency scale. The total NPI and FAQ scores correlated significantly, and the MMSE score did not show a significant correlation with the AD and FTD caregiver burden. The presence and frequency of neuropsychological symptoms differ among patients with FTD and AD, and different symptoms affect the caregiver burdens in both groups.

Application of the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold Model with Community-Based Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) is a conceptual model for reducing behavioral symptoms in individuals with dementia. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PLST-based intervention on burden, symptoms of depression, and quality of life (QOL) of caregivers, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms and QOL of individuals with dementia. A randomized controlled trial was used. Sixty-five participants completed the study. Although variables examined in caregivers in the intervention group showed statistically significant improvement throughout follow up, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and comparison groups. In addition, no statistically significant difference was noted between groups for patient variables. Care based on the PLST model was clinically effective in decreasing caregiver burden and depression of family members, and in increasing their QOL, but no more effective than routine care. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42(7), 44-54.].

Can an Elective Geriatric Nursing Course Change Nursing Students' Attitudes and Willingness in Caring for the Elderly? A Quasi-Experimental Design Study

GERİATRİ HEMŞİRELİĞİ SEÇMELİ DERSİ HEMŞİRELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN YAŞLI BAKIMI KONUSUNDAKİ TUTUM VE İSTEKLİLİĞİNİ DEĞİŞTİREBİLİR Mİ? YARI DENEYSEL BİR ARAŞTIRMA Introduction: The elderly population is rapidly growing, and healthcare professionals are currently providing increased care for the elderly. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an elective geriatric nursing course on the attitude of students toward the elderly and students’ willingness to work with them. Materials and Method: This study was a quasi-experimental. Pretest-posttest design was used. The sample comprised 108 nursing students (46 of the students were educated in an elective geriatric nursing course, 62 were educated in an elective emergency and surgery nursing course). The Student Information Form and Kogan’s Attitudes Towards Old People Scale were used. Value, average, percentage frequency distribution, paired t tests, independent t test, McNemar’s test, and chi-square test were used. Results: Students who participated in the elective geriatric nursing course developed more positive and less negative attitudes toward the elderly after the course in comparison with students who participated in the elective emergency and surgery nursing course. Conclusion: It is important that the curriculum of the geriatric nursing course should create awareness and knowledge in students regarding care of and attitudes toward the elderly. Adopting a more positive and less negative attitude ensures a higher quality care for the elderly. There is a need to revise the nursing curriculum and develop innovative schemes that will increase the students’ willingness to work with the elderly.

Approach to the Elderly Patient with Delirium: Nursing Perspective

Delirium is a common and serious problem for hospitalized older patients and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Prevention is the most effective strategy for minimizing the occurrence of delirium and its adverse outcomes. Nurses play a crucial role in the recognition of delirium. Because nurses have multiple contacts with patients and spend more time at the bedside than physicians, therefore, they are in a unique position to observe changes in mental status fluctuations in attention, level of consciousness, and cognitive functioning at an early stage. Although nurses play a key role in recognition of delirium, it is often unrecognized by nurses. Recognition of delirium can be enhanced with education of nurses in delirium features, cognitive assessment, and factors associated with poor recognition. With awareness of predisposing and precipitation factors, prevention strategies can be developed. Education and training are needed for detection of delirium and its key features by nurses during routine clinical care.

Older people’s views and expectations about the competences of health and social care professionals: a European qualitative study

Adapting and providing quality services for people as they age is a common challenge across Europe. The perspective of older people is fundamental in a person-centred care approach. Expanding research at the European level that explicitly includes their views can offer a relevant contribution to the development of evidence-based guidelines that can be shared in education and training across health and social care professions. This study aimed to identify common meaningful dimensions of professional competence in health and social care emphasised by older people from six countries in different regions of Europe according to their experiences. A qualitative approach was chosen with a total of 95 semi-structured interviews conducted in Austria, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey and UK, following a common topic guide. Participants in this study were aged 60 and above, and recruitment considered age, gender, level of education and living arrangements. Results identified a set of universal skills and practices that according to older people, health and social care professionals should meet. Competences at the interpersonal level were central in older people’s discourses, and its core dimensions are anchored in relational, communication and socio-emotional skills of professionals. These findings reinforce the aspiration of establishing best practices in care that relies on the harmonisation of a competence framework that can be shared in the training and education of health and social care professionals across Europe and that voices older people’s preferences, expectations and needs.

Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale

ABSTRACT The scales need to be adapted for the society so that they can be used. This study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale. The phases of the testing of the scale included the translation and adaptation of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale construct analysis by an expert group, and pre-test and psychometric evaluation (factor analysis, reliability coefficient and inter-item correlations). Pearson Correlation analysis of the results showed a significant positive relationship between test-retest scores of the scale (r= .775, p= .000; t=781, p= .439). Cronbach alpha coefficient was α=.88 and standardized α value was .89. The scale explains the fifty-six percent of total variance. The scales were found to be reliable and valid in Turkish population. These findings suggest that the Turkish version of the instrument is available for measuring specific aspects of the caregiving experience in the Turkish population.

The effects of support groups on dementia caregivers: A mixed method study

ABSTRACT The aim of this qualitative and quantitative study was to understand the effects of support group interventions on the caregiving burden of individuals providing care for people with dementia. This study used the Caregiver Burden Inventory, and focus group interviews (18 caregivers), which were conducted using a semi‐structured interview form. The initial study sample was 37 primary caregivers; however, the final analysis included 30 caregivers. The quantitative data were analyzed by paired sample t‐test. The interviews being analyzed using content analysis. It was found that there was a significant decrease in the scores for total burden (p = 0.049), social burden (p = 0.008) and emotional burden (p = 0.000) after the intervention. The content analyze revealed three main themes (“having knowledge,” “calming down,” and “acceptance”). Overall, it was concluded that support groups are effective in reducing caregiver burden.