Essay: Burdens put on family members in playing the role of a caregiver

I worked in the hospital couple of years ago, and I was opportune to care for different patients who either just had surgery of the knee or thigh, Bariatric patients, and very few patients with cancer or any other ailment. One of the reasons why I chose my research topic is because of the increase population of cancer patients in Nigeria. The number cancer patients in Nigeria has doubled, and it has given rise to so many false theories about the cause of this cancer or the age range that is affected by cancer. The health question I selected is “what extent does age influence length of hospital stay for cancer patients?” Within the first article, the mean age of the patient’s spouse was 53 years old and in the second article, the caregivers averaged age was 65 years old. With this information, we can imply that age can influence the burden of caregivers too. I also believe that when a caregiver is 65 years old and he/she is caring for their spouse who has cancer, it can be very demanding and stressful because at 65 the caregiver is already dealing with his/her own health issues. When older caregivers care for their loved ones, it can cause them to feel sad or depressed and sick if they are not cared for. Also going by the results on the first article, it stated that in the terminal period, caregivers were depressed more than patients (30% v 9%) and caregivers had a higher level of perceived burden than patients (26.2 v 19.4) (Grunfield, Coyle, Whelan, et al., 2004). Caregivers’ anxiety and depression was higher than the patients, and their burden increased as the patient’s health decreased. In the second article, the result stated that the mean anxiety score for caregivers was 9.89, which fell between the cutoff for general anxiety and clinically anxious. The mean depression score was 5 (Reblin et al., “Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice: The role of relationship quality,” 2015).49, which fell about the suggestive score of depression. The caregiver’surden was the most important predictor of anxiety and depression (Reblin et al., “Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice: The role of relationship quality,” 2015) Influence of age on the length of stay in the hospital is huge because the age and health conditions of the caregiver will influence the well-being of the patient. With the assistance of biostatistics, numerical knowledge spring from biological, biomedical and health-related studies (Gerstman, 2015) With such knowledge, health professionals and policy makers will perceive the main issue related to caregiving. Biostatistics will offer effective data which will facilitate caregivers understand the need to care for themselves. Article Selection The article chosen was the “Family caregiver burden: results of a longitudinal study of carcinoma patients and their principal caregivers” and “Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice: The role of relationship quality (Reblin et al., “Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice: The role of relationship quality,” 2015).” Like I previously stated, one of the reasons why I chose my research topic is because of the increase population of cancer patients in Nigeria. The number cancer patients in Nigeria has doubled, and it has given rise to so many false theories about the cause of this cancer or the age range that is affected by cancer. The articles explained the burden that’s concerned in caring for a loved one with cancer. This subject is vital to public health as a result of caregivers role in the life of an individual. The topic of this article talks about the relation of the cancer patient and their family caregivers. It describes the effects of being a caregiver to a cancer patient and how it affects their relationship, health and the financial responsibility involved. The family caregivers are burdened with the responsibility of caring for the cancer patient, and the decision to do this can have its adverse effect on the caregiver too. According to the article, the result of the research that was done was that caring for their loved ones impacted their work because they had to miss work to care for the cancer patient, also paying for the prescription drugs also was a financial burden too. The explanation for this is that Caregivers’ depression and perceived burden increase as patients’ functional status declines (Grunfeld, 2004). Strategies are needed to help reduce the psychosocial, occupational and economic burden associated with caregiving (Grunfeld, 2004). With my little understanding of biostatistics, I believe that with this research information that has been gathered, strategies can be created to help reduce the burden of caring for a loved one on the caregiver. Biostatistics can also help inform the decision of the caregiver in caring for their loved ones. The personal experience that I have is not directly related to my family member, but I worked as a patient care technician in a hospital for 3 years I had the opportunity to see how caring for a loved one can affect the caregiver. This article can be used to determine and understand the level of burden involved in caring for a loved one. The second article explains how the relationship can impact the amount of burden that a loved one feels when caring for their spouse. It also demonstrates the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. This articles gives a better understanding to the adverse health effects that caregivers expose themselves to when caring for a loved one (Reblin et al., 2016). The second article has a personal connection with me because my father was sick for a long time, he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, and I watched my mother care for him so much that sometimes she does not sleep until she is sure that my father was comfortable. It affected her health, but she tried to care for herself too. Findings Article one focuses on family care givers, and the burden they face when caring for their terminally ill loved ones. The research in the first article, researched on 89 caregivers over a three-year time. In doing so, data gathered in the study examines caregivers at one the start, middle and end points, targeting points of heightened stress and anxiety. The second article also focuses on the impact of caring for a loved one with terminal illness lke cancer(Reblin et al., 2016). Unlike article one which examines economic, and psychosocial effects of providing care, article two’s focus is the level of stress based on relationship quality. This study was conducted using a cross sectional approach to the 113 participants. In both studies the sample size included caregivers who were related to the patient. Likewise, both studies included people who are caregivers to patients labeled as being terminally ill. As far as the studies conducted by each, both studies took into consideration the demographics for both as well a use qualitative data. For example, article one used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measures depression (Grunfeld et al., 2004), and the SRI scale used in article two to rate relationship quality (Reblin et al., 2016). Both also collected demographic data using questionnaires. A difference between the two studies is the research type, (Longitudinal and Cross Section). The studies. Another difference is the number of people being studied in each article (89, 113). The health questions are also differing based on the goal of each. In the first article, the goal is to find the effect of the burdens that a caregiver may face over time, while in the second article, the focus here is the link between the quality of a relationship and caregiver health. These studies provides a better understanding into the health quality and potential health risk of caring for a loved one dealing with terminal illness. Some strengths of Article One include, a variety of participants included in the sample population, 55% male, 52% female as well as the research type. Correlation could be made using the starting data
and ending data over a three-year time. One limitation though was the number of participants used. Including a larger sample size would add to the validity of the conclusion. While the study is limited in the sample size diversity, a cross sectional study is appropriate.
Methods
According to the research done in the first article, the authors used a matched pair t-test by collecting data from individuals at two different times during the cancer diagnosis, the authors can use matched pair t test to demonstrate whether a difference has taken place. Based on the study, the depression of the caregivers and the burden they carried were measured during the palliative period and terminal period (Grunfeld, et al., 2004). While in the second article, an independent T-test was used. This independent t- test examines whether there is a statistically significant difference between means of two unrelated groups. In this experiment, a spouse and a loved one had their relationship categorized by relationship quality (supportive vs ambivalent) in order to see if there was any change in perceived burden, anxiety & depression (Reblin, et al., 2016). I believe the authors in the first article used the appropriate methods because the matched t score test allows the authors to compare results from two different time periods thus resulting in pairs of observations that can be examined to help confirm or deny the initial hypothesis(Reblin, et al., 2016). This comparison of the means allows the authors to explain if the caregivers’ depression and perceived burden has increased or decreased as the loved one’s condition worsens (Grunfeld, et al., 2004). While in the second article, the authors used were appropriate because the independent t test is appropriate because the authors are looking to examine the mean difference between the same variables but across two different groups (ambivalent vs supportive) (Reblin, et al., 2016). Since the purpose is to find out if a relationship has an effect of perceived burden, anxiety & depression, using an independent t test allows for the collection of data that will determine if there is significant statistical difference or not. The similarity is that both t test try to determine the difference between two means is significant. The test done on both articles tries to measure perceived burden & anxiety levels. A significant difference occurs when using a matched t test, it compares the scores on two different variables but for the same group. (In this case same individuals but over two different time periods). There is a relationship between the observations collected in both samples (second sample collected is dependent on the first). In the second article, An Independent t test is used to examine if there is a difference in the means of two different groups (In this case ambivalent vs supportive). Sample is collected randomly and independently (Reblin, et al., 2016). In the first article, the Matched pair t test reduces error. Variance within subjects is typically smaller than between subjects (Grunfeld, et al., 2004). The Matched t test that was used in the first article also do not require many subjects to achieve the same results as it is required in the independent sample t test. While in the second article, Homogeneity of variance allows for the assumption that when conducting independent t test, variance within each population is equal. By having equal variance, it strengthens the credibility of p-values that are used to reject / accept a hypothesis. Some limitations for these tests would be that there is Potential for carry over, which is a type of practice effect that occurs because the results from one test influences the other. Since participants of this study are being tested twice, they can become aware of the purpose which can influence their behavior leading to possible errors in the result. The need for a larger sample size to conduct experiments is a disadvantage of independent t test. Since two groups are required, testing for an independent t test requires a lot more participation in order to reduce errors and generate a reliable result.
Conclusion
These two articles are in relation to the burdens that is put on family members in playing the role of a caregiver for the family members. In the first article, the family caregivers are burdened with the responsibility of caring for the cancer patient, and the decision to do this can have its adverse effect on the caregiver too. The first article also researched on the psychosocial, occupational and economic effect on the caretaker. According to the article, the result of the research that was done was that caring for their loved ones impacted their work because they had to miss work to care for the cancer patient, also paying for the prescription drugs also was a financial burden too. The explanation for this is that Caregivers’ depression and perceived burden increase as patients’ functional status declines. Strategies are needed to help reduce the psychosocial, occupational and economic burden associated with caregiving (Grunfeld, 2004). The second article did a research on being a caregiver for a spouse. The study demonstrates the challenges that comes with being the caregiver of a spouse., and the adverse health effects that the caregiver is exposed to. Based on these articles, there is an understanding that there is a high level of stress that that a family is burdened with when caring for a loved one. The strengths and weakness I can get from this research is based on the population and the length of study that was used. One of the strengths here is that the patient feels a sense of belonging in being cared for, but the weakness is that the stress and the burden which is being put on the caregiver affects the health of the caregiver. These articles discuss the relationship between the burden of care on the caregivers with various psychological parameters such as coping strategies, personality type, overall quality of life, and socio-demographic det (Grunfeld, 2004).