Relationship between Caregiver Health Literacy and Caregiver Burden

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted in order to examine the relationship between caregiver health literacy and caregiver burden. Methods: A cross sectional and descriptive design was used. The research was carried out at the state hospital from November 2017 to January 2018. The study sample consisted of 215 caregivers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a health literacy scale and a burden interview. Results: The research found that the participating caregivers had a high level of health literacy and a moderate level of care burden. There was a moderately negative relationship between health literacy and caregiver burden (r = -.310; p = .000). It was found that as a caregiver’s level of health literacy increased, that individual’s burden decreased. Conclusion: It is important for individuals who are caring for chronic patients and need assistance in this tough process to stay healthy in terms of decreasing the care burden. Caregivers must be adequately health literate so that they will be able to understand basic health information and develop the proper self-care behavior that will enable them to maintain and even improve their own health status.