A Bicommunal Study: Burden of Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients

This study was conducted to evaluate the burden of caregivers who provided care to hemodialysis patients in two different communities. It was designed as a descriptive study and included family caregivers of 210 patients who received hemodialysis therapy. The study data were collected using the Information Form and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. The mean caregiver burden scale score was higher in caregivers living in the Northern Cyprus (X=45.77), compared to those living in Turkey (X=31.62). The combined effect of treatment center and age, sex marital status and educational status of the caregiver on the burden scale score of the caregiver was not statistically significant, whereas the relation of the caregiver to the patient significantly affected the caregiver burden scale score of the caregiver (F(2_2o3) = 4.96, p