Psychological Burden Among Informal Caregivers of Cirrhosis and Liver Transplant Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the burden and stress levels of two groups of informal caregivers: those assisting patients undergoing treatment for cirrhosis (Group 1) and those caring for liver transplant recipients (Group 2). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 223 informal caregivers of cirrhosis and liver transplant patients monitored at the Liver Transplant Unit. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, a patient disease history form, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC). RESULTS: Caregiver burden was influenced by specific factors: being younger than 40 years, having children, caring for emotionally distressed patients, and lower per capita income and women were the most burdened. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for public health strategies that recognize and support the essential, yet often invisible, role of informal caregivers. A more equitable redistribution of caregiving responsibilities between families, Society, and the State is critical to reducing caregiver strain and improving outcomes for both caregivers and patients.