A Study on the Burden of Family Caregiving with the Mentally Ill and Professional Needs to It

Oh, Hyun Ju

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the burden of family with the mentally ill and professional needs. Data collection period was from June 29, 1998 to July 30, 1998. The subjects for the study was 134 family members of psychiatric in-patients and out-patients in Taejon and Chungnam. The questionnaire developed by OK-KYUNG YANG to measure the family burden and professional needs was used for this study. The tools used for this study were composed of General characteristics(30 items), family burden(43 items), professional needs(26 items). The data was analyzed by using on SPSSWIN program and included percentage, mean, S.D., t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of the analysis were as follows; The mean score of family burden was 134.26, which is higer than the mean score of the instrument. The mean score of professional need, the family caregiver who supporting of mentally ill patients, was .48 which is lower than the mean score of the instrument. Family burden was statistically correlated with professional needs(gamma=.6139, P<.001). There were statistically differences in family burden for respondent's relation, location of living, most care money giver, substant care money giver. There were statistically significant difference in professional need for family age, marriage status, substant care money giver, information status. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that addressing professional needs would contribute to reduce burden of the family caregivers with mentally ill. Therefore, Nursing interventions are needed to reduce family burden.