Factors Associated with Care-giver Burden of Pediatric Epilepsy Patients

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 24(2); 2006 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2006;24(2): 117-124.

소아 간질 환자의 간병 부담과 관련된 요인들

최호진, 박진세 고성호 김현영 이규용 이영주 김희태 김승현 김주한 김명호 박기형a 정 부b 설인준c 염명걸c

한양대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 가천의과대학 신경과학교실a, 제주 한마음병원 신경과b, 한양대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실

Factors Associated with Care-giver Burden of Pediatric Epilepsy Patients

Hojin Choi, M.D

Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine; Department of Neurology, Gachon Medical Schoola, Incheon; Department of Neurology, Hanmaeum Hospitalb, Jeju; Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicinec, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background: Pediatric epilepsy can result in a heavy burden of illness for the family and the role of family caregivers is becoming more important for the management of the disease. However, there are only few studies about care-giver burden of pediatric epilepsy. This study examined the factors which may influence care-giver burden of pediatric epilepsy patients
Methods: We surveyed 87 care-givers of pediatric epilepsy patients. The demographic and social data of the care-givers, along with the social and clinical data of the patients were obtained. The Korean version of the Burden Interview (KBI) and the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (KBDI) were used. The relationship between the demographic and social data of care-givers, the clinical factors of the patients and KBI score were evaluated.
Results: Of the 87 participants, sixty-nine (79.3%) were the mothers. The mean age of caregivers was 41.3 years and the mean score on the KBI was 20.2 (±16.8) points. The mean age of the patients was 11.1 years and 48 patients (55.8%) were male. The number of antiepileptic drugs prescribed, severity of the disease and school record had a significant correlation with KBI in a multivariate linear regression analysis.
Conclusions: We suggest that in addition to the strict control of the seizure, that the consideration for the academic functions of pediatric patients is also important for reducing care-giver burden in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy. KeyWords:Pediatric epilepsy, Care-giver burden, School record