Burden and coping strategies of caregivers of schizophrenic patients attending psychiatric outpatient department at Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura, West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Caregiver’s responsibility has increased in the last three decades for caring mentally ill peoples due to the advent of deinstitutionalization of mental health care to community based psychiatric services. Aims: The aims of this study are to assess burden and coping strategies of caregivers of schizophrenic patients and find out the relationship between burden and coping strategies of caregivers of schizophrenic patients. Materials and Methods: 106 caregivers of schizophrenic patients were selected by purposive sampling from psychiatric outpatient department, Bankura Sammilani Medical college and Hospital, Bankura. Standardized Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) schedule was used to assess burden and standardized brief COPE scale was used to identify adopted coping strategies. Results: The study result depicted that 31.13% caregivers had severe burden, 58.49% had moderate to severe burden, 10.38% had mild to moderate burden and caregivers experienced highest burden in finances. In coping strategies, majority 70.75% of caregivers were adopted moderate coping strategies. Burden was negatively correlated with coping strategies at 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: As schizophrenia is a global mental health problem, the nurses should take a key role in educating the patients and family members to improve psychological wellbeing.