Economic burdens and quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients

초록

Objectives: We conducted this study to identify factors influencing the burdens cancer brings to a patient's family and to evaluate the association between the burdens and the caregiver's quality of life (QOL). Methods: Participants were drawn from the primary family caregivers of cancer patients at 6 university hospitals and the National Cancer Center in Korea. Of the 738 eligible caregivers, 704 (95.4%) completed the questionnaire packets (Family Impact Questions and Caregiver's QOL-Cancer). Results: Caregivers, who were poor (OR, 2.11; 95% Cl, 1.44-3.10), whose health status was poor (OR, 1.87; 95% Cl, 1.29-2.70), who were married (OR, 1.75; 95% Cl, 1.12-2.72), who provided care for a long time (OR, 2.29; 95% Cl, 1.59-3.28), who cared for patients with poor performance status (OR, 1.35; 95% Cl, 1.00-1.82), and who paid high medical expenses (OR, 1.70; 95% Cl, 1.21-2.40), were more likely to lose their family savings. In multiple regression analysis, most burden variables - including requiring caregiving assistance, major life change, inability to function normally, loss of savings, loss of income, and altered educational plans - were associated with caregiver QOL. Loss of family income, which was related to economic issues, was most strongly associated with it (16.0%). Conclusions: Our study suggests that to improve caregiver QOL, we should give priority to decreasing the economic burden that cancer places on patient's family. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

키워드