Abstract TP57: Understanding Ethnic Differences In Post-stroke Informal Caregiver Needs

Introduction: Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. Mexican Americans (MAs) have worse 90-day neurologic, functional, cognitive and quality of life outcomes and a higher prevalence of post-stroke depression compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). MAs receive more help through informal, unpaid caregiving than NHWs. Little is known about caregivers’ needs and whether they differ by ethnicity. We examine ethnic differences in the number and type of needs identified by MA and NHW caregivers. Methods: Caregivers were identified from the population-based Basic Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project from October 2019 to November 2021 in Nueces County, Texas. Responses to the 32-item Caregiver Needs and Concerns Checklist (CNCC) were collected at 90-days post stroke and were used to assess needs and concerns of stroke caregivers within 5 domains: information, emotions and behaviors, physical care, instrumental care, and personal responses to caregiving. Bivariate analyses were used to examine differences between CNCC items by ethnicity. Linear regressions were used to examine adjusted associations of ethnicity with the total average of needs for each domain. Results: 187 caregivers were included; 74.3% MAs and 25.7% NHWs. MA caregivers had lower education and income, and more had other jobs while providing care. Significant ethnic differences were only observed in the average frequency of the “finding information on stroke” domain (B=0.17; 99.17%CI: 0.02-0.32) after adjusting for various caregiver and patient characteristics. Within the information domain, MAs reported an overall greater need and some individual needs differed by ethnicity (Table 1). Discussion: There exists differences in the needs of MA caregivers compared to NHWs. Understanding these differences can help develop or improve resources needed to help with post-stroke recovery, improve caregiver well-being in this population and strengthen health equity.