Sobrecarga del cuidador informal de pacientes geriátricos con Diabetes Mellitus en un hospital de Guayaquil, enero - abril 2024.

Abstract

Informal caregivers of elderly patients with Diabetes Mellitus are a group of the population that generally does not have a significant or priority role in terms of care, is the non-professional person who provides support and care to a patient, it can be a family member, a close friend who is dedicated to help in daily tasks, accompanying, giving emotional and social support. The objective of this research was: To determine the overload of the informal caregiver of geriatric patients with Diabetes Mellitus in a hospital in Guayaquil, January - April 2024. Methodology: descriptive, quantitative, prospective, and cross-sectional. Population and sample: 100 informal caregivers of patients with Diabetes Mellitus in a Hospital of Guayaquil, by non-probalistic sampling. Technique: Survey, Instrument: Zarit test. Results: Among the characteristics, 68% were women and 32% men; 59% were between 18 and 29 years old, 23% between 50 and 59 years old, 14% between 40 and 49 years old and 4% between 30 and 39 years old. They almost always presented psychological manifestations: irritability (65%), social isolation (100%), lack of sleep (15%), emotional overload (85%), physical: muscle and joint pain (85%) as well as decreased social interaction (93%) and limitations in working life (68%). Conclusion: Of the total number of informal caregivers, the majority are married women, with a slight or intense level of overload (98%) according to the Zarit Scale, facing irritability, sleep disorders within important manifestations of stress, psychological, physical and social.