血液透析患者主要照顧者的負荷、需求及相關因素

The purpose of this study was to explore the burdens, needs, and related factors among primary caregivers while they were taking care of their hemodialysis patients. There were 101 questionnaires collected from those patients' primary caregivers in one hospital located in Northern Taiwan. The results of this study were as follows: Firstly, the mean for primary caregivers' burdens was 1.77, a medium burden level, and ”worrying about the patient's disease progression” was the major identified burden. In addition, the caregivers' burden showed significant differences according to whether they have chronic diseases, job changes for patient care, and foreign helpers or not. Also, the changes of health status, family relationship, kin interaction, and economics, among primary caregivers, before and during care of patients, yield significant differences in burden. Using a multiple stepwise regression analysis, health status, family relationship, Barthel's score revealed that, foreign helpers or not, and economic cha