Effects of training offered to informal caregivers of post stroke patients

Abstract

Introduction. After an episode of stroke the affected patients often return to home with physical and emotional changes and the family takes the basic care. The informal caregivers generally not aware or prepared to deal with the problem, promoting the physical, psycho­logical overload, among others, and a decreased quality of life. Ob­jective. To evaluate the impact of training on quality of life, physi­cal overload, and knowledge level about pathology in stroke patients caregivers. Method. 13 stroke patients caregivers were evaluated with semi-structured questionnaires to assess the profile and the level of knowledge about the disease, scale to assess the caregiver burden and to assess the quality of life. Caregivers underwent a training that provided information about the pathology and the care that must be performed in the patient’s home. Results. The results showed a posi­tive impact on caregivers’ level of knowledge about the pathology. No differences were observed in the scores of the caregiver burden and quality of life before and after training. Conclusion. The training was able to influence on the level of knowledge of caregivers and promote an inverse relationship between burden and quality of life.