Author(s): Gülhan KÃÃÃK ÃZTÃRK
The aim of study is to determine how caregivers of individuals with chronic mental illnesses evaluate their care experience. A qualitative type study with phenomenologic method was made. A sampling group of totaly 12 individuals who caregivers of individuals with chronic mental illnesses at least 10years, was formed with purposeful sampling method. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with personal information form and semistructured interview form. Data analysis was carried out with content analysis and written as raw data. Average age of caregivers was 51.98±2.6 and care time average was 18.25±2.06 years. Seven theme for caregivers of individuals with chronic mental illness; emotional tension, burnout, deterioration from family functions, stigma, restrictions in daily life and social activities, deterioration in body and mental health and economic difficulties. Caregivers should be supported by carrying out intervention studies on the difficulties experienced by those who care for individuals with chronic mental illness. It is recommended that more experimental and qualitative studies specific to diseases are carried out in order to understand in detail what the caregivers of individuals with chronic mental illness experience.
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