Department of Oncology, National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Division of Cancer Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Montebello Center, The Norwegian Resource Center for Coping with Cancer, Mesnali, Norway.
Acta Oncol. 2023 Jul;62(7):794-802. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2023.2240008. Epub 2023 Aug 4.
The aims of this study were to examine (1) the perceived burden among caregivers and identify those in risk of high burden and (2) the need for support among caregivers and identify associated factors.
Cancer patients who participated in an educational program at the Montebello Center (MBC) in Norway between May 2021 and February 2022 were asked to invite a caregiver to answer a questionnaire. The caregiving burden was assessed with the Caregivers Reaction Assessment (CRA) that consists of 24 questions scored from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), covering five domains. A mean sum score was calculated for each domain. Higher subscale scores indicate higher levels of burden, except for caregiver esteem where a high score indicates a low burden. Need for support was assessed with 13 questions.
Of 464 invitations, 185 caregivers responded (response 40%), median age was 58.0 years and 58% were male. Caregiver burden mean scores were: 2.6 (SD 1.03) for , 2.1 (SD 0.79) for , 2.1 (SD 0.76) for , 2.0 (SD 0.86) for , and 4.2 (SD 0.47) for . Female caregivers, younger, higher education, having comorbidities, caring for patients having recurrence of cancer, and shorter time since diagnosis were associated with higher burden measured on individual subscales of the CRA. Most reported needs were information about: cancer, late effects and rehabilitation services and support from peers and professionals to cope with the new situation. Younger, caregiver comorbidity and recurrence of cancer of the patient were associated with more needs.
The results indicate that caregivers of cancer patients participating at the MBC report moderate caregiver burden, however, numerous caregivers reported need for support within several areas. Our findings need to be confirmed in a larger unselected group.
本研究旨在考察：（1）照顾者的感知负担，识别处于高负担风险的人群；（2）照顾者的支持需求，并识别相关因素。
2021 年 5 月至 2022 年 2 月期间，在挪威蒙特贝洛中心（MBC）参加教育项目的癌症患者被邀请邀请一名照顾者回答问卷。照顾者负担使用照顾者反应评估（CRA）进行评估，该评估由 24 个问题组成，评分范围为 1（强烈不同意）至 5（强烈同意），涵盖五个领域。为每个领域计算平均总分。较高的子量表分数表示负担水平较高，但照顾者自尊除外，其中高分表示负担较低。支持需求通过 13 个问题进行评估。
在 464 份邀请中，有 185 名照顾者做出回应（回应率为 40%），中位年龄为 58.0 岁，58%为男性。照顾者负担的平均得分为：照顾者角色负担 2.6（SD 1.03），情感负担 2.1（SD 0.79），经济负担 2.1（SD 0.76），体力负担 2.0（SD 0.86），和照顾者自尊 4.2（SD 0.47）。女性照顾者、年龄较小、较高的教育程度、合并症、照顾癌症复发患者以及诊断后时间较短与 CRA 各子量表的较高负担相关。大多数报告的需求是关于癌症、晚期效应和康复服务的信息，以及来自同行和专业人员的支持，以应对新情况。年龄较小、照顾者合并症和患者癌症复发与更多需求相关。
研究结果表明，参加 MBC 的癌症患者的照顾者报告了中度的照顾者负担，但许多照顾者在多个领域报告了支持需求。我们的研究结果需要在更大的未选择人群中得到证实。
