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Aim: Caregiver burden refers to people's emotional response to the changes and demands of giving support to another. This study aims to highlight the burdens faced by the primary caregiver of oral cancer patients and assess which amongst them contributes to the highest stress. Materials and methods:The study was conducted at onco logy ward of our hospital. The cross-sectional correlational study design was employed. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire. A total of 50 oral cancer patients' primary caregivers consented to participate in the study. Two-step data analysis was done. First descriptive statistics were used to analyze the background characteristics. Then the patient's overall burden was calculated based on the scoring system obtained from ZBI. In the second step, regression analysis was done to predict the burden degree and also to find the main cause of the burden.Results: Binary logistic regression analysis revealed the following burdens (stressed managing to balanc -0.896, embarrassed-0.896, no privacy-0.980 and uncomfortable about having friends-1.094) as statistically significant. Again with those significant variables, forward stepwise logistic regression was done which revealed the following burdens (not enough time for themselves-0.013 and uncomfortable about having friends-0.023) very significantly associated. Conclusion:This study highlights that the caregivers, though burdened to some extent, wanted to take care of their relatives till the last day. Clinical significance:The purpose of the study was to create awareness among the professionals to give more importance to the primary caregiver. The importance of primary caregiver in the life of the diseased is paramount because of the emotional attachment they share. So this inter-relationship between the doctor, the patient, and the primary caregiver will help in a significant way in the wellbeing of the patient.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological consequences among hospitalized patients facing Maxillofacial trauma.Materials and Methods: Ninety-two patients (78 male and 14 female) following maxillofacial trauma were assessed initially and later again after 4-6 months of the injury. For assessment the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) was used. Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress was assessed initially and later at follow-up in terms of percentage. Paired t-test was then used to assess if there is any significant difference in the pre and post assessment of Depression, Anxiety and Stress after maxillofacial trauma.Results: Of 92 patients, 41.3% had normal depression and 13%, 26%, 16.3% and 3.2% had mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe depression respectively in the initial assessment. Whereas in the follow up assessment, 37.8% were normal, 19.5 %, 31.7%, 10.9 % had mild, moderate, severe depression respectively and none had extremely severe depression. Similarly, of 92 patients 39.1 % of the subjects had normal anxiety, 6.5 %, 25 %, 15.2 % and 14.1 % had mild, moderate, severe anxiety and extremely severe anxiety respectively at the initial assessment. Whereas in the follow up assessment 45.1 % were normal, 12.1%, 28 %, 12.1% and 2.4 % had mild, moderate anxiety, severe and extremely severe anxiety respectively. Furthermore, of 92 patients, 79.3% of the subjects had normal stress, 8.7%, 10.8% and 1% had mild, moderate and severe stress respectively and no subjects had extremely severe stress at the initial assessment. During follow up assessment all patients were normal without any kind of stress. Paired t-test revealed that there was significant levels of anxiety in patients following maxillofacial trauma but no significant levels of Depression or Stress was found.Conclusion: Psychological morbidity commonly follows maxillofacial injury and it needs to be addressed in routine clinical practice.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(2) 2015 85-89

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