Caregiver Burden and Associated Factors in Parkinson's Disease
Primary caregivers of patients diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease will be included in the study. A total of 43 participants will be recruited. At the beginning of the study, demographic data and clinical characteristics of the patients, including disease stage, history of falls, presence of fractures, presence and severity of pain, comorbidities, and medication use, will be recorded. Subsequently, caregivers' age, gender, occupation, relationship to the patient, caregiving duration, and their own comorbidities will be assessed. Sleep problems will be evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), while symptoms related to depression and anxiety will be assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Caregiver burden will be examined using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale.
• Age between 40-80 years
• Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-5
• Requires assistance in daily activities
• Informal caregiver providing care (unpaid, typically a family member such as a spouse or child)
• Caregiver has sufficient proficiency in Turkish to understand and respond to the study questions