INTRODUCTION:

Chronic liver disease refers to disease of the liver which had lasted over a period of 6 months. It consists of a wide range of liver pathology which includes inflammation, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The treatment of chronic liver disease may vary depending on the severity includes medical, nutritional and surgical management. Transplant is required when the liver fails and there is no other alternative¹.

Although liver transplantation lengthens the life of patient with chronic liver failure and increase their quality of life, liver transplant recipients continue to experience health problem and symptoms after transplantation. After transplantation, there is continuous need to follow strict routine of medications and self-care. Family members of liver transplant patients continue care giving activities for a lengthy period after transplantation. Therefore the transplant recipient family members are also affected by this circumstance, especially as they continue to perform emotional and instrumental care giving tasks like providing emotional support, accompanying the patient in the medical appointments, attending dietary requirements, assuming duties and roles at home. Studies showed that caregivers experienced considerable care giving overload. Women reported performing more care giving activities, higher perceived overload, and higher level of depression than men.² Miri Cohen, DafnaKartz, Yaacov Baruch conducted a study to assess the effect of stress on psychological distress and perceived health of family caregivers of liver transplant recipients. Setting and participants were twenty- four caregivers of liver transplant recipients treated at a liver transplantation unit serving the Northern part of Israel. The study recognized that caregivers experienced considerable care giving overload. Women reported performing more care giving activities, higher perceived overload, and higher level of depression than men. Increasing passage of time since transplantation, higher perceived overload, higher sense of relational deprivation, and lower sense of personal gain were significantly associated with higher level of depression and worse perceived health. Perceived support and level of depression and worse perceived health. The conclusion of the study was care giving stress endures after transplantation. Professional intervention is needed to improve caregivers quality of life and consequently, that of transplant recipients as well.³There are no adequate studies been conducted on this area. In view of this the researchers would like to explore the stress experienced by primary care givers of the living related liver transplant patient during the postoperative period. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice of end stage liver disease. Some researchers suggest that the care givers of liver transplant patients experiencing tremendous stress because of non synchronized family interaction.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

- Identify the stress among primary caregivers of patient undergone liver transplantation.

- Find out the association between the level of stress and selected demographic variables

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Quantitative approach with descriptive design was used. The study was conducted among 50 primary caregivers of liver transplant patients attending in liver transplant unit (T6F1) of AIMS, Kochi. The data were collected using semi structured questionnaire and it was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. The following tools were used for the study: Tool 1was a structured questionnaire to assess demographic data of primary caregivers. Tool 2 was caregivers self stress assessment tool. Data collection was done by using semi structured questionnaire and the stress was assessed by using modified version of the caregivers self stress assessment tool.

Inclusion Criteria:

1) Primary caregivers of liver transplant patient who were caring for less than 5 years.

2) Primary caregivers who is willing to participate in the study.

RESULTS:

Table 1: Sample characteristics based on demographic variables. n=50

Sl No	Demographic Variables	Frequency	Percentage(%)
1	Age
	20-30 years	2	4
	31-40 years	10	20
	41-50 years	22	44
	>50 years	16	32
2	Religion
	Hindu	33	66
	Christian	11	22
	Muslim	6	12
3	Occupation
	Employed	19	38
	Unemployed	31	62
4	Marital status
	Single	1	2
	Married	49	68
5	Income
	<5000	7	14
	5001-10000	7	14
	10001-15000	14	28
	>15000	22	44
6	Health status
	Good	47	94
	Average	3	6

The data presented in table1 shows the distribution of sample based on demographic variables. Highest percentage 22 (44%) were in the age group of 41-50 years. Majority of subjects 33 (66%) were Hindu. Most of the subjects 31 (62%) were unemployed. And majority of the subjects were married 49 (98%). Most of the subjects were spouses 40(80%). Regarding health most of the subjects were healthy 47 (94%).

Figure 1 : Distribution of subjects based on duration of care of patients

Figure 2: Distribution of subjects based on relation with patient

· Study findings shows there was a significant association between age (p=0.028), duration of care (p=0.018 ) and income (p= 0.032 ) with stress

Section 2: Stress among primary caregivers of liver transplant patients

Figure 3: Distribution of subjects based on severity of stress

CONCLUSION:

The study findings showed that the direct caregivers of liver transplant patients had mild stress since majority of the care givers were life partners. In contrast to the present study previous studies revealed the caregivers are having high psychological distress. The small number of participants and the response rate were major limitation of the study, reducing the possibility of generalization

REFERENCES:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_transplantation

2. Adhal M, Hansen B A, Kirkegaard P, Groenvold M. Fatigue and physical function after orthotopic liver transplantation.2002;8:251-259

3. Miri Cohen, Dafna Katz, Yaacov Baruch, Stress among the family caregivers of liver transplant recipients. Progress in Transplantation March 2007; ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source 17(1): 48-53.

Received on 20.06.2016 Modified on 17.07.2016

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research.2017; 7(1): 105-107.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2017.00021.0