Caregiver Burden As Perceived By Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease And Undergoing Hemodialysis At Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background: Caregiver burden refers to the negative feelings and subsequent strain experienced by the relatives or friends of the patients with (CKD) who have to undergo regular hemodialysis. The burden on the caregivers has been extensively studied, however, the perception of the burden on the recipient of the care (patient) has not been well established. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess caregiver burden as perceived by the patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Methods: This a descriptive cross sectional survey where convenience sampling was used to identify 113 study participants. Ethical approval was sought from KNH-UoN Ethics and Research Committee. A demographic questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic data. Caregiver burden perception was assessed using Cousineau Scale of Perceived Burden and Health Related Quality of Life by KDQOL-SF.v.36 form. Results: The findings showed that majority of the respondents perceived themselves as a burden some of the time to their caregivers. There was a significant relationship between perception as a burden to caregivers and health related quality of life at p=0.00, x2=34.18 (p<0.05). Patients who asserted that kidney disease interferes too much with their life were associated with increased perception as burden to their caregiver p=0.03, x2=27.98 (p<0.05.There was a significant association between amount of money spent on hemodialysis treatment and patients’ caregiver burden perception p=0.00 (p<0.05). Conclusion and recommendations: The burden of (CKD) cuts across the age-groups, gender, social and economic status. The findings show that majority of the participants feel being a burden to their caregivers some of the time in terms of financial dependence, activities of daily living among others. This study recommends making hemodialysis treatment more affordable and accessible, economically empowering dialysis patients and timely treatment of renal failure complications to ease the patients’ caregiver burden perception.