Muralidharan Shrikanth, Sikalgar Farha R, B Deepak, Nikalje Monali R, Subramaniam Tulsi, Kumar Manasvi
Research, National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, IND.
Community Medicine, ZVM Unani Medical College and Hospital, Pune, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Jun 11;16(6):e62159. doi: 10.7759/cureus.62159. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Introduction Caregivers of individuals with head, neck, and face cancer play a pivotal role in providing support, yet they face distinct challenges. This study aims to explore caregiving experiences and consequences among this population. Methods A multicentric cross-sectional study involving 200 caregivers using a convenience sampling method was conducted in Pune. Caregivers involved in patient care were included in head, neck, and face cancer. The Cancer Caregiving Consequences Inventory (CaTCoN) questionnaire was utilized to assess various dimensions of caregiving. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional review boards. Results The demographic profile revealed that 89% of caregivers were spouses/partners, primarily females (77%), aged 25-40 (81.5%), and urban dwellers (68.5%). Caregivers were predominantly married or cohabiting (100%) and had children (95%). Most had a graduate-level education (97.5%) and were employed full-time (82.5%). The mean scores from the CaTCoN questionnaire highlighted substantial caregiving responsibilities, with significant associations found in multivariate regression analysis. Spouses/partners showed stronger correlations with increased workload, personal growth challenges, financial difficulties, and the need to maintain an everyday life. Conclusion This study comprehensively explains caregiving consequences among head, neck, and face cancer cases. The predominance of spouses/partners as caregivers emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address their unique challenges. The study highlights the demanding nature of caregiving, with potential positive outcomes.
引言 头颈面部癌症患者的照料者在提供支持方面发挥着关键作用,但他们面临着独特的挑战。本研究旨在探讨该人群的照料经历及后果。方法 在普纳进行了一项多中心横断面研究,采用便利抽样法,纳入了200名照料者。参与患者护理的照料者涉及头颈面部癌症患者。使用癌症照料后果量表(CaTCoN)问卷来评估照料的各个维度。获得了机构审查委员会的伦理批准。结果 人口统计学资料显示,89%的照料者为配偶/伴侣,主要是女性(77%),年龄在25至40岁之间(81.5%),居住在城市(68.5%)。照料者大多已婚或同居(100%)且育有子女(95%)。大多数人拥有研究生学历(97.5%),全职工作(82.5%)。CaTCoN问卷的平均得分突出了重大的照料责任,在多变量回归分析中发现了显著关联。配偶/伴侣与工作量增加、个人成长挑战、经济困难以及维持日常生活的需求之间显示出更强的相关性。结论 本研究全面解释了头颈面部癌症病例中的照料后果。配偶/伴侣作为照料者的主导地位强调了针对其独特挑战进行有针对性干预的必要性。该研究突出了照料工作的艰巨性以及潜在的积极成果。