SHBC1103

T.Y.G.DING¹, J.G.DE ROZA¹, C.Y.CHAN¹, P.S.S LEE¹, H.L.KOH¹, K.W.J. LEW¹, S.K.ONG¹, E.S.LEE¹

NHG Polyclinics¹

Singapore is facing an ageing population and the care needs of the population will increase in tandem. A segment of this population would be living with the multimorbidity and frailty.

This was an interviewer-administered, cross-sectional study of primary family caregivers of frail older patients with multimorbidity.The 12-item Zarit Burden Index was used to assess primary family caregiver burden. A score of 10 or above indicates that the primary family caregiver perceives burden. Descriptive statistics were used to provide information regarding the caregivers and the care recipients. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the factors affecting primary family caregiver burden

188 family caregivers were interviewed and 71.8 % of them perceived burden on the ZBI. After adjusting for other factors via multivariable analysis, the ethnicity of the caregiver and the increase in time spent caregiving per week were the two factors positively associated with family caregiver burden. A Chinese primary family caregiver had almost three times the odds of perceiving burden when compared to a non-Chinese primary family caregiver

Caregiver burden was high amongst primary family caregivers of frail older adults with multimorbidity. Being a Chinese primary family caregiver compared to non-Chinese ethnic groups as well as being a primary family caregiver who spent increased time caregiving per week were the two factors positively associated with family caregiver burden. Further exploratory, qualitative studies can be done to find out the reasons to Chinese primary family caregivers being more burdened.