The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy care practices of patients and the care burden of caregivers: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the care practices of adult patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and the care burden of individuals who provide care for these patients in this regard. METHODS: The study was carried out in a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The sample of the study consisted of 139 patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and 139 primary caregivers. The research data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the patients and their caregivers using patient and caregiver information forms, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy care questionnaire, and the Zarit care burden scale. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 program. Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used in data analyzing. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05. RESULTS: It was determined that 59.7% of patients were female and 60.4% were aged 65 and over. 59.7% of carers were male and 50.4% were aged between 45 and 64. The mean score on the Zarit care burden scale of the caregivers was 34.21 ± 21.37. The average care burden score for caregivers of patients aged 65 and over was 38.45 ± 22.73, which was statistically significantly higher than that of caregivers of patients under the age of 65 (p = 0.004). Other factors that affecting caregivers' burden of care include percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy control status, the duration of care, maintenance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy care, the status of closing the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy area, the type of feeding, the type of equipment used in feeding, the patient's education for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy care, and the amount of daily food given (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the caregivers of patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy had a moderate care burden. In addition, this study showed that caregivers who had training on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy care had a higher care burden.