The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients: A Cross-sectional Study of a French Cohort

Stroke is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in adults and ranks second among causes of dementia and third among causes of death. In France, stroke affects around 140,000 patients each year and entails enormous economic costs. Given the average age of onset of stroke, its prevalence is expected to increase with increasing life expectancy and the advancing age of the population.

Clinically, depending on the region of the brain affected, stroke results in a sudden and abrupt onset of sensorimotor, cognitive, emotional and / or behavioral manifestations, associated with variable recovery from patient to patient. Stroke has psychological, social and family consequences. Indeed, its occurrence could affect patients on a physical and psychological level (direct physical and cognitive sequelae of stroke, decrease or even absence of autonomy and dependence of the entourage, associated psychological changes) and generate repercussions on the dynamics. family or that of the couple (ie, changes in activities, redistribution of tasks, changes or even inversion of roles, alteration of the intimate sphere), as well as professional and social life. This could hamper the quality of life of patients and their loved ones and cause collateral damage to their social or family environment.

After discharge from the hospital, the patient's relatives will play a major role in taking charge of home care (e.g. household activities and personal care around hygiene, food, mobility and administration. treatments) as well as in the community (eg purchase of clothes or food, accompaniment to medical visits), although these helpers do not have the professional knowledge and skills in care. Despite the positive effects that caregivers can have in connection with the care they provide (ie, feeling of accomplishment and usefulness, development of a sense linked to this helping role, better self-esteem, improvement of personal skills), their continued investment in their sick relatives could deprive them of their resources, making them "hidden or invisible patients / victims". In addition, the gap between caregiver capacities to provide care and the health needs of patients could result in caregiver burden (i.e., caregiving burden). Caregivers of stroke patients experience an impaired quality of life, neglect of their own health, reduced work and leisure activities, as well as psychological suffering involving feelings of abandonment, loneliness and helplessness. uncertainty. In the context of a stroke, caregivers may be overwhelmed by the emotions of their ill loved ones as well as their own emotions. Emotional regulation is essential in such a context rich in emotional experience; it is the set of strategies that enables individuals to influence the emotions they feel, when they appear, and how they experience and express them.

Reviews of the literature have highlighted the lack of studies addressing the burden on caregivers and the need for research to identify those at risk and implement appropriate interventions.

No French study has specifically addressed the notion of the burden of caregivers of stroke patients, their coping strategies, their experiences or emotional regulations. This type of study would however constitute a step towards the design and implementation of personalized care (eg: psychotherapies), by strengthening effective / adaptive strategies and modifying those which are less effective / poorly adaptive. This could improve the well-being of caregivers and their sick relatives, and direct health policies to reduce the economic impact of this aid.