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Learning Objective 1: describe the family caregiver reaction of CHF patients.
Learning Objective 2: describe the important factors that influence family caregiver reaction.
Methods: A descriptive, correlational research design was used. There were 50 family caregivers and 50 congestive heart failure patients recruited from medical and surgical units of two Midwest Medical Centers. Data on ADL dependence of older people, family caregiver burden, spiritual well-being, coping strategies, quality of older people - caregiver relationship, and care continuity were collected using structured questionnaires. SPSS PC Version 16.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings indicated that there were significant positive relationships between patients’ADL dependence and family caregiver burden and between lack of family support and family caregiver burden. There were significant negative relationships between quality of relationship and family caregiver burden, between care continuity and family caregiver burden, between coping and family caregiver burden and between spiritual well-being and burden. In Hierarchical Multiple Regression, the model variables accounted for 66% of the variance in Family Caregiver Burden. Patients’ ADL dependence, Quality of relationship, and Lack of family support are significant predictors of Family Caregiver Burden.
Conclusion: In the resiliency process of family caregivers, patients’ADL dependence, family support, quality of relationship, care continuity, coping strategies, and spiritual well-being are important factors influencing family caregiver burden. It is vital for nurses to assess family caregivers’ needs and resources and the quality of the older people-family caregiver relationship in developing a plan of care that reduces family caregiver burden.