Study of factors determining caregiver burden among primary caregivers of patients with intracranial tumors

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of patients with intracranial tumors handle physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments of patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of burden experienced by primary caregivers of patients operated for intracranial tumors and evaluate factors influencing it. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional design was used to assess home-care burden experienced by primary caregivers of patients operated for intracranial tumors. Using purposive sampling, 70 patient-caregiver pairs were enrolled. Modified caregiver strain index (MCSI) was used to assess the caregiver burden. Mini mental status examination (MMSE), Katz index of independence in activities of daily living (ADL), and neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI-Q) were used to assess the status of patients. RESULTS: Of 70 caregivers, 45 had mild, and 22 had moderate MCSI burden. A number of behavioral changes in NPI-Q had a significant correlation with MCSI burden (P < 0.001), whereas MMSE and Katz-ADL of patients did not show significant relation with caregiver burden. In NPI-Q, irritability, agitation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances had a significant impact on MCSI. Among caregiver factors, unemployment, low per capita income, time spent, inability to meet household needs, quitting the job, and health problems had a significant impact on MCSI. In separate multivariate analyses, irritability component (P = 0.004) among behavioral changes of patients and caregivers’ inability to meet household needs (P < 0.001) had a significant association with caregiver burden independent of other factors. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral changes in patients (especially irritability) and financial constraints had a significant independent impact on the burden experienced by primary caregivers of patients operated for intracranial tumors. Identifying and managing, these are essential for reducing caregiver burden.