An Educational Intervention to Reduce the Burden on Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

International Journal of Nursing and Health Science
© 2019 by SSRG - IJNHS Journal
Volume 5 Issue 1
Year of Publication : 2019
Authors : Hani Hamed Ali Desouki, Saida El-Sayed Hassan IbrahimEl-Azzab, and Entisar Mohammed Mahmoud Abu-Salem
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Hani Hamed Ali Desouki, Saida El-Sayed Hassan IbrahimEl-Azzab, and Entisar Mohammed Mahmoud Abu-Salem, "An Educational Intervention to Reduce the Burden on Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia," SSRG International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, vol. 5,  no. 1, pp. 17-25, 2019. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V5I1P103

Abstract:

A. Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychosis and experiences a high burden level of the family caregiver and consequent impairment in their health condition.

B. Aim: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of an educational intervention program for decreasing the family caregivers’ burden of patients with schizophrenia.

C. The study design: A quasi-experimental design was employed. The study was applied at the Psychiatric Outpatients Unit in Beni-Suef University Hospital. Forty-four family caregivers participated, 22 allocated to the experimental group and 22 in the control group.

D. Tool of the study: Demographic data and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. The program was conducted once a week for four months in the experimental group. Results: the burden level diminished significantly in an experimental group; the mean scores of caregiver burden reduced from 84.05 pre-program into 53.24 post-program (P< 0.001). However, the mean scores in the control group were slightly changed. The program was effective for family caregivers with low educational levels.

E. Conclusion: The majority of the studied family caregivers’ burden was reduced after implementation of an educational program, with a highly positive significant statistical difference between parents and family caregivers with lower educational levels between before and after educational sessions.

F. Recommendations: Apply the components of this program in future studies, which emphasize to decline of burden levels of family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and the mentally ill.

Keywords:

Burden, Caregivers, Education, Family, Intervention, Schizophrenia.

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