Caregiver Burden in Informal Caregivers of Patients in Saudi Arabia Receiving Hemodialysis: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Long-term caregiving for patients receiving hemodialysis (HD), is associated with physical and psychological stress, which may impact on the well-being and quality of life of caregivers. Due to a lack of understanding of the experiences of informal caregivers of patients receiving HD, especially in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to measure burden in informal caregivers of patients receiving HD, examine the factors that predict caregiver burden (CB), and explore the experience of burden in caregivers of patients receiving HD. (2) Methods: This study used a mixed-methods, sequential, explanatory design, which consisted of two phases. Phase 1 involved a cross-sectional study design, with a convenience sample of 61 caregivers of patients on maintenance HD for at least 3 months. All caregivers in the study completed the Arabic version of the Zarit Burden Interview to identify caregiver burden. Phase 2 of the study involved a qualitative descriptive design involving semi-structured interviews with nine caregivers. (3) Results: Study findings indicate that caregivers did not experience severe burden. Being older, a female caregiver and having comorbidities was positively associated with increased levels of caregiver burden. In the qualitative phase of the study, a number of important factors emerged that may contribute to a reduction in caregiver burden, including social support, cultural acceptance, and religious influences. (4) Conclusion and impact: CB was found to be low when a comparison was made with other studies using similar populations. Understanding the factors that influence caregiver burden will contribute to the accurate assessment of caregiver burden and help reduce burden in informal caregivers, patients with renal failure, and others with chronic illnesses worldwide.

Understanding the burden of mental and physical health disorders on families: findings from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey

“…Approximately 73% of the study population reported experiencing some form of burden because of the care they provide for their family members. Our findings correlate with previous studies that show a high rate of depression, stigma and time burden among caregivers 13–15 17. We found significant levels of burden in caring for family members with serious memory disorders or mental retardation, which points to issues in terms of the ability to cope with the care demands.…”

“…We found female gender to be significantly associated with a lower burden of caregiving. This is relevant to note as it is in contrast to previous studies that found female caregivers faced higher burdens and could be reasoned to reflect the influence of women’s perceptions of their roles and their reporting of the burden 11 14 15 17. This could also be due to the rapidly shifting social and gender dynamics in Saudi society and bears further study and exploration for potential self-reporting or social context issues 31…”

“…Alabdulaziz and Cruz found healthcare providers struggled to incorporate family dynamics into the care setting despite their understanding and appreciation of its cultural and religious relevance in the country 16. Most recently, Alshammari et al has found increased caregiver burdens on women of older age 17. These previous family burden studies were all based on relatively small samples from singular cities or particular healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, and to the best of our knowledge, there are no published national estimates of family burden in Saudi Arabia yet.…”

“… 16 Most recently, Alshammari et al has found increased caregiver burdens on women of older age. 17 These previous family burden studies were all based on relatively small samples from singular cities or particular healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, and to the best of our knowledge, there are no published national estimates of family burden in Saudi Arabia yet.…”

Correlation Between Symptoms of Depression and Obesity in Caregivers of Patients With Chronic Illness: A Gender Difference Analysis

“…These activities include tasks such as (a) assisting with acts of daily living and movement between a chair and bed; (b) transport, cooking meals, purchasing food and other supplies, cleaning, ensuring adherence to prescriptions, and coordinating external services; (c) making crucial treatment decisions for the individual; and (d) overseeing the financial aspects of their care. 33,34 Caregivers of individuals with chronic diseases shoulder a substantial emotional and financial responsibility that surpasses the general population’s experiences. Caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses often experience higher levels of depression and exhibit elevated BMI scores compared to those who do not have caregiving responsibilities.…”