Abstract:
This descriptive research aimed to study the correlation among the relationships of caregivers and stroke patients, health status of caregivers, caregiving duration, sense of coherence and dependent care ability of caregivers in patients with stroke. The theoretical framework was derived from the thory of dependent care agency in Orem's self-care theory. One hundred and twenty six primary caregivers of stroke patients at outpatient Sawanpracharuk Hospital were recruited in the study. The subjects completed four questionnaires including intimacy scale, dependent care ability of caregiver with stroke scale, the sense of coherence scale and health status of caregiver scale. Data was analyzed with Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient.The findings revealed that the mean scores of the relationships of caregivers and stroke patients and the health status of caregivers were at a high level. The mean scores of the sense of coherence and dependent care ability of caregivers in patients with stroke were at a moderate level. The relationship of caregivers and stroke patients, health status of caregivers and sense of cohernce had significantly positive correlations with the dependent care ability of the caregiver (r = 0.31, p<.05; r=0.18, p<.05; r=0.20, p<.05). Caregiving duration showed a significant negative correlation with dependent care ability of caregivers (r=-0.32, p<.05).The result confirmed the validity of the theory of dependent care ability basic conditioning factors enhanced the abilities of caregivers to take care of stroke patients. Therefore, the nursing care for strengthening basic conditioning factors of caregivers of stroke patients is recommended.