Depression and Anxiety Among Family Caregivers in Hospitalized Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression and anxiety in family caregivers of hospitalized diabetic
foot ulcer patients
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from Dec 2022- May 2023. About 239 family
caregivers were recruited using non probability convenient sampling technique. Hospital anxiety and
depression scale was used for the assessment of anxiety and depression among study participants. Bi variate
and multivariate linear regression analysis were done for the association between dependent and independent
variables.
Results: Overall depression (80.8%) was way more prevalent than anxiety. In linear regression analysis
female (p=<0.014), divorced (p= <0.001), illiterate (p= <0.001), living in joint family (p= <0.001), un employed
(p= <0.004) were some of the predictors identified for depression. Anxiety predictors were being female (p=
<0.001), divorced (p= <0.001), illiterate (p= <0.001), living in joint family unit (p= <0.001), un employed
(p= <0.001) and relationship to patient (p= <0.001)
Conclusion: Women who are divorced, illiterate, unemployed, living in a joint family were identified as
predictors of depression and anxiety in caregivers Hence, these finding suggested psychological screening of
care givers based on clinical need, particularly those who are females, divorced or married, un employed,
belonging to joint family caregivers.
Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Family Caregivers, Hospitalized Diabetic, Foot ulcer