Relationship between health literacy and Burnout syndrome of unpaid caregivers of older people: A cross-sectional study

• Grant number: 25/06924-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Flávia de Lima Osório
• Grantee: Niaskara de Souza Cavalcante
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Health literacy is a public health issue. Unpaid caregivers of older people with low health literacy may have difficulties in the care recipient's assistance, contributing to negative impacts of care and mental health (e.g., Burnout syndrome). Burnout syndrome is an occupational disease that has affected health care providers, for example, caregivers of older people. This syndrome negatively affects the physical and psychological health, which can reflect on the mental health of the caregiver and the assistance provided to the elderly person. Thus, this study has as main objective to analyze the impact of health literacy on mental health (i.e., Burnout syndrome) of unpaid caregivers of older people. This is a cross-sectional study with probabilistic sample. The following instruments will be used: structured questionnaire for sociodemographic characterization and care of caregivers, Independence Scale in Daily Life Activities, Questions for Health Literacy Screening and Burnout Assessment Tool. This study will be part of a larger post-doctoral research, which will be conducted with paid and unpaid caregivers of older people. For the present study, only unpaid caregivers will be invited; thus, it is estimated that 76 caregivers participated. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the advancement of understanding of the relationships between health literacy and Burnout syndrome in unpaid caregivers of older people. (AU)