Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study

BackgroundPrivate caregivers are common in developing countries as supplements to healthcare human resources. However, the effects of private caregivers on inpatient conditions remain unclear. This study explored the effect of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in patients with dysph...

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Main Authors: Weijia Zhao, Jing Zeng, Shuaiqi Li, Sheju Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1513609/full
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author Weijia Zhao
Jing Zeng
Shuaiqi Li
Sheju Chen
author_facet Weijia Zhao
Jing Zeng
Shuaiqi Li
Sheju Chen
author_sort Weijia Zhao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPrivate caregivers are common in developing countries as supplements to healthcare human resources. However, the effects of private caregivers on inpatient conditions remain unclear. This study explored the effect of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke.MethodsThis observational study included patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke between 2022 and 2024 in central China. Participants were divided into non-caregiver and private caregiver groups. A single-factor analysis was used to explore the differences between the baseline assessments of the two groups. We then used propensity score matching (PSM) to balance significant baseline variables, including anxiety at admission, and demographic and clinical characteristics. In the matched sample, we used the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) to uncover the influence of the patient groups on nutritional risks and anxiety on day 10.ResultsA total of 2,234 patients were included, and there were 766 cases in the private caregiver group. Before PSM, there were significant reductions in anxiety (47.00 vs. 32.86%, P < 0.001) and nutritional risks (100.00 vs. 70.55%, P < 0.001) from days 1 to 10. After PSM, there were no significant differences in any baseline assessments, and 766 pairs of cases were successfully captured. The ATT analysis showed that before and after PSM, there was no significant correlation between groups and nutritional risks (30.75 vs. 29.41%, P = 0.573), but there was a significant correlation between groups and anxiety on day 10 (34.89 vs. 23.40%, ATT = 0.234 after matching, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPrivate caregivers can effectively reduce anxiety in hospitalized patients with dysphagia following ischemic stroke, but they do not have a significant impact on nutritional risks.
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spelling doaj-art-a34bf4e6b6604a2699363d79e3bb85392025-08-20T03:12:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-05-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15136091513609Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational studyWeijia Zhao0Jing Zeng1Shuaiqi Li2Sheju Chen3School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaHealth Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaHealth Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaBackgroundPrivate caregivers are common in developing countries as supplements to healthcare human resources. However, the effects of private caregivers on inpatient conditions remain unclear. This study explored the effect of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke.MethodsThis observational study included patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke between 2022 and 2024 in central China. Participants were divided into non-caregiver and private caregiver groups. A single-factor analysis was used to explore the differences between the baseline assessments of the two groups. We then used propensity score matching (PSM) to balance significant baseline variables, including anxiety at admission, and demographic and clinical characteristics. In the matched sample, we used the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) to uncover the influence of the patient groups on nutritional risks and anxiety on day 10.ResultsA total of 2,234 patients were included, and there were 766 cases in the private caregiver group. Before PSM, there were significant reductions in anxiety (47.00 vs. 32.86%, P < 0.001) and nutritional risks (100.00 vs. 70.55%, P < 0.001) from days 1 to 10. After PSM, there were no significant differences in any baseline assessments, and 766 pairs of cases were successfully captured. The ATT analysis showed that before and after PSM, there was no significant correlation between groups and nutritional risks (30.75 vs. 29.41%, P = 0.573), but there was a significant correlation between groups and anxiety on day 10 (34.89 vs. 23.40%, ATT = 0.234 after matching, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPrivate caregivers can effectively reduce anxiety in hospitalized patients with dysphagia following ischemic stroke, but they do not have a significant impact on nutritional risks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1513609/fullaccompanying personsaccompany nursing staffprofessional escortspatient escortsrehabilitation
spellingShingle Weijia Zhao
Jing Zeng
Shuaiqi Li
Sheju Chen
Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
Frontiers in Nutrition
accompanying persons
accompany nursing staff
professional escorts
patient escorts
rehabilitation
title Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
title_full Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
title_fullStr Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
title_short Effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia: an observational study
title_sort effects of private caregivers on nutritional risk and anxiety in stroke survivors with dysphagia an observational study
topic accompanying persons
accompany nursing staff
professional escorts
patient escorts
rehabilitation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1513609/full
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