วารสารวิทยาลัยบัณฑิตเอเซีย ...

Stroke is a major cause of disability in Thailand. The patients who survive are cared for in home settings, by caregivers. This descriptive correlational research aimed to study: 1) the perception of Illness among caregivers of stroke patients, 2) the relationship between the caregiver factors, 3) the nurse-supports, and 4) the perception of Illness among caregivers of stroke patients. The participants was selected through purposive sampling, consisted of 85 caregivers of first- time stroke patients who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in the north eastern region of Thailand. Data were collected using the personal data questionnaire, the revised illness perception questionnaire, and The Nurse- Supports questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used in the data analysis. The research findings showed that: 1) the overall perception of the caregivers had a moderate level (x ̅ = 3.52 S.D. = 0.53). For each dimension of the perception of illness, identity, consequences : patient, control : patient, timeline, and emotional expression were at high level (x ̅= 4.12 S.D. = 0.71, (x ) ̅= 3.92 S.D. = 0.56, (x ) ̅= 4.06 S.D. = 0.52, x ̅= 4.21 S.D. = 0.73, and x ̅ = 4.15 S.D. = 0.59) respectively. Dimension of consequences : caregiver, control: caregiver, and illness-coherence were at moderate level ((x ) ̅= 3.01 S.D. = 0.64, x ̅ = 3.25 S.D. = 0.85, and (x ) ̅= 3.46 S.D. = 0.66) respectively. 2) The overall nurse- supports had a high level (x ̅ = 3.79 S.D. = 0.62) which were not associated with the perception of illness among caregivers of stroke patients (r = 0.01 p < .05). The results of this study indicate that caregivers of stroke patients perceived the impact of illness from moderate to high level. The nurse-support factors had no relationship to caregiver perception of illness. Therefore nurses should promote caregivers to understand about disease in order to advise them appropriate perception of illness, this can evaluate the situation to develop the caregiver’s ability and skills to support stroke patients at home, minimize the risk of complications, be able to undertake daily activities for quality of life both patients and caregivers.