Burden and anxiety among caregivers of patient undergoing hemodialysis at specific center of Kathmandu.

Thesis Report.

ABSTRACT: Chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem that required a long treatment in the form hemodialysis. It is a prolonged process that affects all life aspects of the patient and his family including physiological , psychological, functional ability, and lifestyle changes. This study aimed to assess the burden and anxiety among caregivers of patient undergoing hemodialysis. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out among 176 caregivers. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted to select caregivers of patient undergoing hemodialysis at National Kidney Centre Banasthali. Data was collected by researcher herself using face-to-face interview technique on the basis of structured interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The association between variable was measured by chi-square and pearson correlation coefficient considering p=<0.5 as statistically significant. Findings revealed that among all caregivers 49.4% of the caregivers had little no burden, 39.8% had mild to moderate burden and only 10.8% felt moderate to severe burden. Similarly 58% of caregivers had no anxiety. However 28.4% had mild anxiety and 9.1% of had experienced moderate level of anxiety, 4.5% were bothered by severe anxiety. None of the socio-demographic characteristics of the caregivers were not found to have any association with caregiver burden. There was statistically significant association between caregiver's anxiety level with sex at 95% confidence level (p-value: 0.001). There was significant positive interrelationship between burden and anxiety (i.e. r= 0.391) which is significant at 5% significant level. The study concluded that more than two third of caregivers had mild to moderate burden and more than one fourth had mild anxiety. Thus, the health care delivery institutions and professionals should address the issue of caregivers by proper counseling, awareness program and intervention to reduce caregiver burden and improve caregiver's well being. Key Words: Caregiver, Burden, Anxiety, Hemodialysis, Chronic kidney disease.