Objectives: We aimed to investigate depression, burnout, attitude, and burden of caregivers of children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and especially caregivers of children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) due to limited number of studies on this topic, and to compare them according to their children’s clinical status.

Methods : Clinical features and demographic data of children and their families were asked to caregivers in four pediatric pulmonology centers. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), and Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI) were administered to caregivers in both groups. Results were compared between the two groups.

Results : In total, 131 children with CF and 39 with PCD and their caregivers were involved in study. All primary caregivers were mothers in both groups. Depression, burnout, and burden scores of mothers of children with CF were significantly higher than mothers of children with PCD (p=0.017, p=0.024, p=0.038, respectively). Burnout was higher in both CF and PCD groups with low family income (p=0.022, p=0.034). Number of hospital visits in the previous six months was correlated with burnout in both CF and PCD groups (r=0.207, p=0.034; r=0.352, p=0.044).

Conclusions: Although mothers of children with CF have higher depression, burnout, burden, and negative attitudes towards children than mothers of children with PCD, it is disregarded in mothers of children with PCD. Psychological problems of mothers of children with CF and PCD may increase with frequent hospital visits, hospitalizations, low family income, number of children, and chronic disease in another child.