Caregiver burden in professionals working in different settings for persons with dementia

Abstract Introduction Professionals caring for persons with dementia (PwD) have to meet demands from various sides. Considering today's high standards put on institutional care with respect to “person centred care” and the skills related to specific needs of PwD, caring for care staff is one of the major challenges. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the caregiver burden in professional dementia care and its work related differences. Methods The study was carried out from September 2021 to February 2022 among 105 professionals working in different settings for PwD in Slovakia including home care and day care centres. The Professional Care Team Burden scale (PCTB) and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) were chosen to measure caregiver burden. Length of work in the organisation (< 3, 3 to 6, > 6 years), job position (domiciliary and other care worker), and current dementia care intensity (≤ 8, 9 to 39, > 40 hours/week) were also measured. Independent samples T-tests and ANOVA were used to analyse the differences (IBM SPSS 27). Results 87.6% of professionals were women (mean age 48.6±9.8 years). 52.5% worked more than 6 years in the organisation, 53.3% were in the job position of domiciliary care workers, and for 52.1% the current dementia care intensity was 9 to 39 hours/week. Caregiver burden mean scores achieved were 26.7±4.0 (PCTB) and 9.7±6.2 (ZBI-12). The significant difference was found in the PCTB by job position with the higher burden in domiciliary care workers (mean score 26.0 + 4.2, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the PCTB and the ZBI-12 by the length of work in the organisation and current dementia care intensity. Conclusions Specific scales for assessing professionals’ caregiver burden are useful to uncover areas for intervention. Structuring the interventions by taking the care staff subjective feelings of burden into account is important for future improvements in institutional care. (Grant support: VEGA no. 1/0372/20). Key messages Caring for professionals is one of the major challenges to improve health and social services for persons with dementia. Structuring the tailored interventions should take the caregiver burden into account.


Introduction:
Professionals caring for persons with dementia (PwD) have to meet demands from various sides. Considering today's high standards put on institutional care with respect to ''person centred care'' and the skills related to specific needs of PwD, caring for care staff is one of the major challenges.

Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the caregiver burden in professional dementia care and its work related differences.

Methods:
The study was carried out from September 2021 to February 2022 among 105 professionals working in different settings for PwD in Slovakia including home care and day care centres. The Professional Care Team Burden scale (PCTB) and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) were chosen to measure caregiver burden. Length of work in the organisation (< 3, 3 to 6, > 6 years), job position (domiciliary and other care worker), and current dementia care intensity ( 8, 9 to 39, > 40 hours/ week) were also measured. Independent samples T-tests and ANOVA were used to analyse the differences (IBM SPSS 27). Results: 87.6% of professionals were women (mean age 48.6AE9.8 years). 52.5% worked more than 6 years in the organisation, 53.3% were in the job position of domiciliary care workers, and for 52.1% the current dementia care intensity was 9 to 39 hours/week. Caregiver burden mean scores achieved were 26.7AE4.0 (PCTB) and 9.7AE6.2 (ZBI-12). The significant difference was found in the PCTB by job position with the higher burden in domiciliary care workers (mean score 26.0 + 4.2, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the PCTB and the ZBI-12 by the length of work in the organisation and current dementia care intensity.

Conclusions:
Specific scales for assessing professionals' caregiver burden are useful to uncover areas for intervention. Structuring the interventions by taking the care staff subjective feelings of burden into account is important for future improvements in institutional care. (Grant support: VEGA no. 1/0372/20).

Key messages:
Caring for professionals is one of the major challenges to improve health and social services for persons with dementia.
Structuring the tailored interventions should take the caregiver burden into account.

Background:
Depression and anxiety are common during perinatal periods, representing a considerable public health concern during global pandemic. Only few studies have examined the influence of emotional disturbances on satisfaction with maternity care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of satisfaction with prenatal care and to examine its association with depression and anxiety among pregnant women in Kazakhstan.

Methods:
Participants were recruited to this online cross-sectional survey in the outpatient clinic in Novoshamalgan, Almaty region (n = 174) in December-January, 2022. A single-item measure of satisfaction was used by asking a question ''How satisfied are you with health services?'', scored on a 5-point Likert scale. A simplified 2-item Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were used to measure depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Results:
Majority of women were very satisfied or satisfied (n = 128; 74%), while less than a third of the sample (n = 46; 26%) were dissatisfied with the received care. The prevalence of depression in the total sample was higher, compared to the prevalence of anxiety (34% versus 18%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that dissatisfaction with prenatal care was associated with older age, not attending check-ups regularly, and being employee of private company or student. Depression increased the odds of being dissatisfied by 2.6 times (95% CI 1.19$5.79); while obstetric issues and anxiety were not associated with satisfaction. Perception of women about inadequate solution of the problem of antenatal depression was a significant predictor of dissatisfaction (AOR 6.87; 95% CI 1.81$26.12).

Conclusions:
Depressed women in our study were less satisfied with prenatal care. Further investigation of the perception of women about specific aspects of perinatal health services is suggested. Providing a quality, patient-centered care is needed to support pregnant women during the current pandemic.