Burden of Care and Health Literacy of Caregivers in the Emergency Department

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07666373

University of Yalova350 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and health literacy among primary caregivers of patients with chronic diseases presenting to the emergency department. The study will be conducted in the Emergency Department of Yalova Training and Research Hospital and will include at least 300 caregivers. Data will be collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of caregivers' needs and to clarify the role of health literacy in caregiver burden among those providing care for individuals with chronic illnesses.

This study is planned to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and health literacy among primary caregivers of patients with chronic diseases presenting to the emergency department. The role of primary caregivers in the management of chronic illnesses is critical, and their ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health-related information (health literacy) may influence both the quality of care provided and the utilization of emergency healthcare services. The study will be conducted with at least 300 primary caregivers of patients admitted to the Emergency Department of Yalova Training and Research Hospital. Data will be collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The findings are expected to contribute to the identification of caregiver needs and provide evidence for the development of healthcare policies aimed at improving caregiver support and promoting the more efficient use of emergency healthcare services.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

350

Conditions

Caregiver Burden Health Literacy

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

The patient having visited the Yalova Training and Research Hospital Emergency Department. Being at least 18 years of age. Being cognitively capable of answering the data collection tools (scales/questionnaires). Volunteering to participate in the study and providing informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Refusal to participate in the research voluntarily. Not being the primary caregiver for the patient. Inability to communicate or complete the scales due to cognitive or language barriers. \-

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Caregiver Burden Level (Zarit Burden Interview)

This outcome measures the physical, psychological, social, and financial stress experienced by caregivers using a 22-item Likert-type scale. Scores range from 0 to 88, where higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived caregiver burden. The scale evaluates the impact of caregiving on the individual's life through social and emotional domains.

Time frame: At the time of the face-to-face interview (approximately 15-20 minutes).