A Prospective Study of Caregiver Burden in an Outpatient Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Program

This study examined the determinants of caregiver burden on admission to a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) program and identified the predictors of a reduction in caregiver burden at four-month follow-up. A total of 141 patient/caregiver dyads participated (76.6% of patients had a diagnosis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical gerontologist 2006-06, Vol.29 (4), p.47-60
Main Authors: Aminzadeh, Faranak, Byszewski, Anna, Dalziel, William Burd
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult. Elderly
Biological and medical sciences
caregiver burden
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
Developmental psychology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
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Summary:This study examined the determinants of caregiver burden on admission to a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) program and identified the predictors of a reduction in caregiver burden at four-month follow-up. A total of 141 patient/caregiver dyads participated (76.6% of patients had a diagnosis of dementia). Using multiple regression analysis, four variables emerged as the determinants of caregiver burden on admission: lower caregiver well-being, higher frequency of patient dysfunctional behaviors, providing assistance with personal care tasks, and dissatisfaction with help received (R 2 = 0.55, P < 0.001). At follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction in caregiver burden only among those who expressed "high" burden on admission (P < 0.05). Higher baseline burden, providing less than 15 hours of weekly assistance, a positive change in caregiver well-being, and the caregivers' perception of sufficiency of help received from informal sources predicted a reduction in burden (R 2 = 0.45, P < 0.001). The results inform future risk appraisal and targeting strategies in this setting.
ISSN:0731-7115
1545-2301
DOI:10.1300/J018v29n04_04