Factors affecting perceived caregiver burden: caregivers of trauma patients discharged from the intensive care unit

Background: Caregivers to intensive care unit survivors are vulnerable to caregiver burden, which has been demonstrated to have consequences to patients' and caregivers' mental and physical health. Potentially modifiable factors should be explored so that interventions may be developed.

Methods: Ninety-one anticipated caregivers were prospectively assessed both at a southwestern trauma intensive care unit during their patient's admission and at home via remote interview 3 months after intensive care unit admission. Caregiver depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, experiences, and perceived burden were assessed.

Results: At follow up, there was a significant negative correlation between caregiver burden and understanding of their patient's condition (P < 0.001) and intensive care unit events (P = 0.008). Caregivers with lower understanding of their patient's injury/illness had significantly greater depressive symptoms (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Education and knowledge of intensive care unit events regarding their patient may influence perceived burden among caregivers. Interventions to orient caregivers to intensive care unit events are suggested to reduce caregiver and healthcare system burden.