Abstract: Objective To explore the mechanism of care ability between disease uncertainty and benefit finding in caregivers of stroke patients, and to provide reference for improving caregivers' mental health. Methods From January to May 2022, 352 stroke patients and their caregivers from three tertiary grade-A hospitals in Luzhou city were investigated by general data questionnaire, benefit finding scale, family caregiver task inventory and Chinese version of Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Family Member. Results The total score of benefit finding was negatively correlated with that of disease uncertainty and care ability (r=-0.618, r=-0.608, all P<0.01), and the total score of disease uncertainty was positively correlated with that of care ability (r=0.688, P<0.01). Structural equation model showed that the direct effect of disease uncertainty on benefit finding was not significant (β=-0.539, P>0.05); care ability played a completely mediating role between disease uncertainty and benefit finding (β=-0.768, P<0.05), accounting for 58.8% of the total effect (β=-1.307,P<0.05). Conclusion Care ability is a mediation variable between disease uncertainty and benefit finding. Medical staff should pay more attention to the care ability of caregivers of stroke patients and improve it by popularizing disease and care knowledge, enhancing their sense of control over care and reducing uncertainty, so as to promote benefit finding and reduce negative emotions.

Key words: stroke, caregiver, benefit finding, disease uncertainty, care ability