Knowledge and skill needs of home caregivers and their care burden perceptions

Research problem/aim: Family members are increasingly taking more responsibility for patient care. We were conducted this study to determine knowledge and skill needs of in-home caregivers and their care burden perceptions. Methods: The study was designed as descriptive study. The universe of this study included 350 patients who were registered in a Public Hospital Home Care Services Department by year of 2016 and the research sample consisted of 161 patients and patient relatives. Data was collected to use Patient and Caregiver Forms, Care Burden Scale, and Barthel Index. We were calculated the data with percentage, average, standard deviation, independent samples t test, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis tests. Finding: Total Care Burden Scale point is 41.32 ± 13.20, caregiver’s age, marital status, educational status, economic status, to get help about care and receiving care duration do not affect CBS points, female caregivers have less CBS points than male caregivers and this difference is statistically significant (p < 0.05), the least skill level part of caregivers are care and prevention of decubitus, patient handling with the proper method, pay attention to their own body mechanisms, wound care, vital measurements, genital care, stress management and constipation. Conclusion: Caregivers have in a low level of training about care and need knowledge and skills according to patient needs. Care burden of men is higher than women.