Formal nursing home caregivers’ dementia knowledge, empathy, and burden of care from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between formal nursing home caregivers' dementia knowledge, empathy, and burden of care from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and to identify the impact factors stemming from these symptoms. Methods: The participants in this study were 88 formal caregivers who worked in 12 nursing homes with over 50 beds located in G-do and C-do. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean scores of dementia knowledge, empathy, and burden of care from BPSD were 0.70±0.13, 3.87±0.43, and 2.49±0.64, respectively. The burden of care from BPSD negatively correlates with dementia knowledge (r=-.58, p