Abstract
Objective : This study focused on the characteristics of the sense of burden and positive feelings experienced by male caregivers providing defecation care for their spouses at home, to obtain information for the support given by visiting nurses. Methods : An anonymous self-report questionnaire survey was conducted on 229 spouses providing defecation care for individuals with a bedridden level of B or C who were using visiting nurse services. Survey contents were the characteristics of the caregiver and care recipient, conditions of defecation and defecation care, and sense of burden and positive feelings regarding defecation care. The 140 valid responses obtained were classified by sex for statistical analysis. Results : Compared to wife caregivers, husband caregivers had a significantly higher sense of burden regarding defecation care for "expenditures for care services", as well as the positive feelings of "promotion of kindness toward each other" and "provision of defecation care as a way of giving back to the spouse", but had a significantly lower "use of funding system for purchasing welfare equipment". Husband caregivers also had a significantly lower frequency of adjusting medications and meals in defecation care, and a significantly higher proportion of delegating defecation care to visiting nurses or helpers. Conclusion : Visiting nurses must confirm that husband caregivers are appropriately managing medications and meals without burden for defecation control, and support the use of healthcare and welfare information that maintains and promotes positive feelings such as a desire to give back and kindness among husband caregivers, or alleviates economic burden.
