Kim et al. (2007) [32] South Korea | To elucidate subjective and objective burden on primary PD- caregivers and identify related factors.
“Subjective burden refers to the effect and perception components of caregiver burden” (p. 244) “Objective burden refers to the extent to which the demands of caregiving infringe on the caregiver’s time for self and others” (p. 244) | 68 caregivers (31 spouses, 21 children, 14 other family members, 2 unknown)
| Pearson’s product moment correlation Analysis of variance Kruskal-Wallis
Yes | Subjective burden correlated with the caregiver variables age (≤ 40 years reported less), andrelation to care recipient (spouses reported highest) and with the patient variables motor disability, disease duration(˂1 and ˃10 years reported less)and monthly medical costs. Objective burden correlated with patient motor disability and disease severity |
Martinez-Martin et al. (2007) [37] Spain | To assess the burden and HRQoL of PD caregivers and to determine the relationship between these and socio-demographics, emotional, functional factors and HRQoL
“The realm of physical, mental and socioeconomic problems experienced by the caregivers of chronic patients” (p. 924) | 79 caregivers (61 spouses, 15 children, 3 others)
| Stepwise multiple regression based on factor analysis
No | Clinical aspects of PD were the main patient variables predicting caregiver burden, followed by patients’ mood and HRQoL
|
Schrag et al. (2006) [62] United Kingdom | To assess caregiver burden and associated factors
No definition | 116 caregivers (Partners)
| Pearson’s product moment correlation Spearman’s rho
No | Increased PD disability and hallucination, confusion and falls were most strongly correlated with caregiver burden. Correlation was also found between caregivers’ burden and patients’ depression, disease duration and QoL |
Marsh et al. (2004) [50] USA
| To determine the prevalence and impact of psychiatric comorbidities in PwPD with psychosis
No definition | 50 caregivers (Not reported)
| Stepwise linear regression
No | Psychosis was the major predictor of caregiver burden, followed by patient functional ability |
Caap-Ahlgren and Dehlin (2002) [31] Sweden
| To identify various factors in PD patients and their caregivers that are of importance for caregiver burden
“Comprising subjective factors such as feelings of stress or strain, increased health problems and decreased feelings of well-being, and objective factors such as task burden, financial burden and behavioural problems” (p. 83) | 65 caregivers (58 spouses, 3 daughters, 2 sons, 1 brother, 1 niece)
| Multivariate regression analyses
No | Patient’s functional status assessed by H&Y was the most important patient variable for caregiver burden in the multivariate analysis |
Thommessen et al. (2002) [30] Norway
| To compare the psychosocial burden on spouses caring for patients with mild dementia, stroke and PD and to identify associated patient characteristics
“The strain or load on people caring for an elderly member of the family” (p. 79) | 58 caregivers (Spouses)
| Multivariate modelling based on factor and path analysis
Yes | The regression model disclosed an effect on PD spouses psychosocial burden from the patients’ depressive symptoms and lower levels of cognitive function, but not from their ADL function |