Prevalence, predictors, and impact of health-related social needs on caregiver burden among informal care partners of stroke survivors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stroke imposes profound challenges not only for survivors but also for the informal care partners (ICPs) who provide day-to-day support. While healthrelated social needs (HRSNs) have been increasingly recognized as relevant to positive patient outcomes, little is known about the prevalence, predictors, and impact of HRSNs among ICPs of stroke survivors. Guided by the Roy Adaptation Model, this dissertation examined HRSNs and their association with caregiver burden among ICPs of stroke survivors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey (n = 81) design was used to collect demographic data, assess HRSNs across 12 domains, and measure caregiver burden using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI). Analyses included descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression models. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that ICPs experienced an average of moderate burden, with diverse results across both cumulative and domain levels of burden. Unmet HRSNs were prevalent, particularly in domains such as mental health, physical activity, and family and community support. Regression analyses identified specific HRSNs as significantpredictors of overall caregiver burden and distinct CBI subdomains. Demographic factors, including age and marital status, further predicted the likelihood of experiencing multiple unmet needs. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore that ICPs’ burden is not only shaped by stroke-related care demands but also by HRSNs. By applying the Roy Adaptation Model, this dissertation conceptualizes HRSNs as stimuli influencing adaptive responses, offering a theoretical and empirical foundation for targeted interventions. Addressing HRSNs among ICPs represents a critical strategy to reduce burden, improve adaptation, and promote equity in the stroke care partnership experience.