Table 1 Study sample characteristics.
From: Using former carers’ expertise in peer support for carers of people with Parkinson’s Disease
Caregivers (N = 141) | Former caregivers (N = 15)a | |
|---|---|---|
Caregiver characteristics | ||
Gender (%) | ||
Women | 96 (68.1) | 12 (80.0) |
Age in years, mean ± SD | 68.0 ± 7.8 | 67.5 ± 10.7 |
Relationship to patient (%) | ||
Spouse | 134 (95.0) | 8 (53.3) |
Mother/father | 4 (2.8) | 7 (46.7) |
Grandmother/grandfather | – | – |
Daughter/son | – | – |
Sister/brother | 2 (1.4) | – |
Friend/acquaintance/colleague | 1 (0.7) | – |
Patient characteristics | ||
Gender (%) | ||
Women | 49 (34.8) | 7 (46.7) |
Age in years (mean ± SD) | 70.6 ± 6.5 | – |
Living situation (%) | ||
Living alone | 5 (3.5) | 1 (6.7) |
Living in a household with partner | 122 (86.5) | 9 (60.0) |
Live in a household with partner and children | 5 (3.5) | – |
Staying in the household of the children | 2 (1.4) | – |
Living in a facility (i.e. nursing or residential home) | 4 (2.8) | 1 (6.7) |
Other | 3 (2.1) | 4 (26.7) |
First symptoms of PD (%) | ||
Less than a year | 1 (0.7) | n/a |
1–5 years | 45 (31.9) | n/a |
5–10 years | 47 (33.4) | n/a |
10–15 years | 24 (17.0) | n/a |
More than 15 years | 24 (17.0) | n/a |
Death of person with PD (%) (N = 14) | ||
Less than a year | n/a | 5 (33.3) |
1– 3 years ago | n/a | 2 (13.3) |
3–5 years ago | n/a | 2 (13.3) |
5 years or longer | n/a | 5 (33.3) |
Care taking | ||
Frequency (%) | ||
Day and night | 63 (44.7) | 9 (60.0) |
During the day | 40 (28.4) | 3 (20.0) |
3–6 times per week | 6 (4.3) | 1 (6.7) |
1–2 times per week | 4 (2.8) | – |
Less than once per week | 7 (5.0) | – |
Less than once per month | 5 (3.5) | – |
Very variable | 16 (11.3) | 2 (13.3) |
Years of care taking (%) | ||
Less than 6 months | 10 (7.1) | – |
Between 6 months and a year | 7 (5.0) | 1 (6.7) |
1–2 years | 20 (14.2) | – |
2–3 years | 21 (14.9) | 1 (6.7) |
3–5 years | 16 (11.3) | 2 (13.3) |
5–8 years | 24 (17.0) | 1 (6.7) |
8–10 years | 14 (9.9) | 1 (6.7) |
More than 10 years | 29 (20.6) | 9 (60.0) |
Caregiver burden | ||
Perseverance time (%), N = 140 | ||
Less than a week | – | n/a |
More than 1 week, less than 1 month | 1 (0.7) | n/a |
More than 1 month, less than 6 months | 4 (2.8) | n/a |
More than 6 months, less than 1 year | 8 (5.7) | n/a |
More than 1 year, less than 2 years | 8 (5.7) | n/a |
More than 2 years | 119 (84.4) | n/a |
Perceived caregiver burden (%) | ||
Not or hardly burdened | 44 (31.2) | n/a |
Somewhat burdened | 48 (34.0) | n/a |
Rather heavily burdened | 33 (23.4) | n/a |
Heavily burdened | 12 (8.5) | n/a |
Overburdened | 4 (2.8) | n/a |
