Stroke caregiving networks in Bangkok: patterns of social exchange behavior

This exploratory, descriptive, ethnographic study of 22 primary caregivers and 20 non-primary caregivers, who comprised 18 caregiving networks, sought to describe stroke caregiving networks and patterns of caregivers' social exchange behaviors that influenced stroke caregiving. The concept of social network, in conjunction with social exchange theory, was used to describe relationships within the caregiving networks. Data were collected, January-September 2008, through a demographic data sheet, in-depth interviews and observations, household assessment, geographic mapping and network analysis. Data analyses were carried out via descriptive statistics and context analysis, using the method outlined by Lecompte and Schensul. The findings revealed factors associated with the caregiving networks were: size (structural); communication (informationai); duration and time (social); finances (financial); and, relationships and satisfaction (psychological). In addition, three major patterns of social exchange behavior were noted: (a) sharing care, in which care functions were divided among the primary caregiver and non-primary caregivers; (b) dual care, wherein care functions were delivered by two primary caregivers, along with non-primary caregivers; and, (c) supplementary care, whereby the primary caregiver, often a spouse, performed caregiving alone or with occasional support from non-primary caregivers.