Caregiver Burden and Social Support in Intractable Epileptic Adult

Objectives：The purpose of this research was to understand the load status and social support of the primary caregivers of intractable epilepsy patients and to explore the correlation between disease characteristics and primary caregiver burden, also primary caregiver burden and their social support.

Methods: This study adopted cross-sectional research, accepting cases by purposive sampling, after obtaining the implementation consent by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the receiving institution, The study was conducted the main caregivers of the intractable epilepsy patients In the neurological and neurosurgical wards and outpatient clinics of a medical center in northern Taiwan, Using the questionnaires on demographics and disease characteristics, the main caregiver burden scale, the social support scale and the quality of life scale, after the data collection was conducted through interviews, The total number of participant receiving 96 . Then using SPSS for Windows 20.0 version of the statistical software for statistical analysis of data.

Results: The caregiver load has the highest financial load score, followed by social load. Epilepsy caregivers have less urgent needs in terms of physical and mental health; in the family support part, the caregiver receives the highest score of emotional support, followed by substantive support, and the message support is the lowest; when the caregiver has no job, the health condition is worse, and the older he is, the greater the care burden, and the higher the caregiver's assistance, the lower the physiological load and financial load; The open questionnaire display, caregiver demand for medical information, financial assistance and respite care services, The caregiver is weak in pre-operative evaluation of epilepsy, ketogenic diet, fertility issues, and safety maintenance.

Conclusion: More than half of the subjects in this study did not work, and they had to pay extra living and medical expenses. Therefore, they need government subsidies or counseling employment in a safe workplace environment. Some patients with cognitive and emotional disorders, combined with unintended seizures attack, It make the caregiver nervous and unable to arrange personal plans or activities, so if the government can provide a more convenient way to apply for a home attendant , There is assisted manpower to take care of patients. The caregiver can also have a breathing space, so that the caregiver can also reduced the burden of care.

Key words: Intractable epilepsy, Caregiver burden, Social support