The relationship between caregiver's fatigue and burden of the elderly with Alzheimer's disease in Birjand: a cross-sectional study

 Increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is one of the consequences of elderly and these people are dependent on others to perform normal life activities due to impaired cognition, behavior and performance. The variety and intensity of care roles leads to psychological problems (anxiety, fatigue and depression) and increases the care burden in caregivers. This study aimed to determine the study relationship between fatigue and caregivers’ burden of elderly caregivers with Alzheimer's disease in Birjand city. 

The cross-sectional method was used. The statistical population consists of all the elderly caregivers with Alzheimer's disease in Birjand city in year 2019. In this study, according to convenience sampling method, 150 elderly caregivers by formula Plant of Tabachnick, Fidell and Ullman (2007) were selected as samples and they were asked to fill revised fatigue scale of Piper and et al (1998) and caregiver burden inventory of Zarit and et al (1998). The data were analyzed by tests of Pearson correlation and multivariate regression. 

 Findings showed that there was positive and significant correlation between fatigue and caring caregivers (P<0/01). Also, findings showed that %55/7 of variance of caring caregivers was explained by fatigue.

 This study confirmed the significant contribution of fatigue on caring caregivers of elderly caregivers with Alzheimer's disease.