THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREGIVER BURDEN AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Authors : Mehmet Ağaslan, Gülşah Kumaş

Pages : 84-95

Doi:10.52881/gsbdergi.1787624

View : 70 | Download : 80

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic and progressive condition that not only impairs patients’ health but also places a significant physical, emotional, and social burden on family caregivers. Understanding the relationship between caregiver burden and their quality of life is essential for developing supportive interventions and improving holistic care outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between caregiving burden and quality of life among family members providing care to patients with HF. Methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive and cross-sectional design. A total of 138 family members caring for patients hospitalized in the cardiology clinics of a state hospital were included. Data were collected between July 2024 and September 2024 using the “Caregiver Identification Form,” the “Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI),” and the “Family Caregiver Quality of Life Scale in Heart Failure (FCQoL-HF).” Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Simple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive relationship between scale scores. Results: The mean ZCBS score of caregivers was 36.36±20.79, and the mean FCQoL-HF score was 55.73±14.60. A statistically significant strong negative correlation was found between caregiver burden and quality of life (β:-0.815; p<0.001). Additionally, ZBI scores explained 71.5% of the variance in FCQoL-HF scores (R²: 0.715). Conclusion: The findings indicated that caregivers’ burden levels were below average, while their quality of life was above average. The results demonstrated that as caregiver burden increased, quality of life decreased significantly and strongly. Moreover, caregiver burden accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in quality of life. These findings highlight the critical importance of interventions aimed at reducing caregiver burden to improve caregivers’ quality of life.
Keywords : Kalp yetersizliği, bakım verme yükü, yaşam kalitesi

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