The assessment of care burden and influencing factors on family caregivers for cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

The family caregivers as primary caregivers play a crucial role regarding the care of cancer patients. As defined in the literature, the care burden encompasses the negative objective and subjective outcomes including psychological and physical health problems, economic and social issues, deterioration of family relationships and feelings of loss of control that arise from caregiving responsibilities.

AIMS

This study aims to assess the care burden and to evaluate the associated factors among family caregivers of cancer patients receiving treatment at a state hospital in Türkiye.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with the family caregivers of patients undergoing treatment in the radiation oncology department of a state hospital in Türkiye. The study population consisted of 350 individuals, with a participation rate of 80%. Participants were administered a questionnaire concerning determining daily living activities and identifying the caregiving burden through their socio-demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The care burden among primary family caregivers while the delivery of health services was severe for 85.1% of them. The average ZBI score of caregivers was 55.92 ± 14.58. It was clarified that family caregivers' burden was influenced by several factors, including the duration of caregiving, difficulties experienced while caring for the patient, and the negative impact on their daily roles.

CONCLUSION

Our study's findings indicate the need for health professionals to support caregivers of cancer patients while over half of the caregivers were identified as having a severe level of caregiving burden. It is important to raise awareness among nurses and the oncology team with a holistic approach. In the delivery of health services, caregivers' needs should be identified first, support mechanisms should be activated and interventions should be made to meet these needs.

IMPACT

This study's findings highlight the need to identify and problems faced by family members during caregiving. This is important for sustainable and cost-effective holistic care.

REPORTING METHOD

The results of this study are reported based on the guidelines of The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies (cohort, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies) in Epidemiology (STROBE).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Our study's findings indicate the need for health professionals to support caregivers of cancer patients. It is important to raise awareness among nurses and the oncology team with a holistic approach. In the delivery of health services, caregivers' needs should be identified first, support mechanisms should be activated and interventions should be made to meet these needs.