A sobrecarga do cuidador domiciliar

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the work overload of caregivers of users of a public home care service and to know the factors associated with this condition. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 2013 with caregivers working in the households of users of the home care service of the municipality of Goiânia, Goiás. Eligible participants were literate caregivers aged 18 years or older working as a primary caregiver for at least two months. Data were collected through interviews with application of instruments for the characterization of the caregiver and burden was evaluated using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0, with calculation of mean and standard deviation and a 95% confidence interval. Bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used with p-value set at<0.05. Results: The mean age of the 95 interviewees was 49.7 years (±13,0); 93 of them (97.9%) were women and 53 (57.9%) were married. The mean score in the burden evaluation was 33.8. Higher ZBI scores were associated with not having a weekly day off (p=0.002), problems in the back (p=0.039) and depression (p=0.016). Conclusion: The caregivers’ work overload results from the caring task and the main factors associated with it are the lack of a weekly day off, problems in the back and depression.