Burden changes in caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal study

The aim of this study was to explore changes in the burden of caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing lower limb amputation after surgery.

Literature suggests the burden overload experienced by the caregivers of new amputees is related to an imbalance between the demands and the resources available to these caregivers.

The study followed a longitudinal design assessing caregiver burden at 1 (T1), 7 (T2) and 10 (T3) months after the patient's surgery.

We used a convenience sample of caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes amputated with recent lower limb amputation. Data were collected in several hospital units over 18 months in 2014-2015. Sample size included at T1, T2 and T3 110, 101 and 84. Participants completed the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Burden Assessment Scale and the Self-Assessment Caregiver Questionnaire scale.

Caregivers who received help reported lower levels of burden from at baseline with no variation over time. Those caregivers with high levels of stress showed an increase in burden over time, although these results were not significant. Also, caregivers who did not receive help showed higher levels of burden and stress over time compared with the initial baseline that decreased over time.

These results highlight the importance of receiving help, in care, especially among caregivers who care for patients who have undergone major amputation.