The Level of Burden among Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in Saudi Arabia

Amal Mohammad. Badawoud, Yasmin K. AlQadheeb, Shahad S. AlZahrani, Razan A. AlGhamdi, Elaf A. Alanazi, Sarah M. AlFozan, Norah S. AlJafer, Ibrahim M. Asiri and Fawaz M. Alotaibi ()
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Amal Mohammad. Badawoud: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Yasmin K. AlQadheeb: College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Shahad S. AlZahrani: College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Razan A. AlGhamdi: College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Elaf A. Alanazi: College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Sarah M. AlFozan: College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Norah S. AlJafer: College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim M. Asiri: Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Fawaz M. Alotaibi: Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Caregiver burden is a serious global issue associated with the growing number of older adult patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD patients become more dependent on their caregivers and require assistance with basic daily life activities. This study aims to measure the caregiver burden of informal caregivers of AD patients and to determine their characteristics. In addition, it intends to understand caregiver coping techniques and assess their medication knowledge. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 148 informal caregivers mainly recruited by the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association (SADA). A four-part study questionnaire was used for data collection in the Arabic Language and included the following: socio-demographic characteristics of AD patients and their caregivers, the 12-item version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and adapted questions on coping techniques and medication knowledge. Results: A total of 148 caregivers (62% were female) participated in this study, and 79.06% were between 30 and 60 years old. The ZBI average score was 27, indicating a moderate to high burden. Caregivers reported their need for services to improve their quality of life. The medication knowledge was insufficient in most aspects except that more than half were aware of medications’ side effects. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the average burden among informal caregivers of AD patients was moderate–high.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; caregiver burden; medication knowledge; coping techniques (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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